The cannabis newspaper since 1985
www.softsecrets.com | Issue 5 - 2020 18+ For adults only. Soft Secrets is published six times a year by Discover Publisher BV Netherlands
THE HOME OF FAMOUS STRAINS
WAPPA - SENSI STAR - L.A. AMNESIA ORIGINAL WHITE WIDOW - NEBULA ACID - ATOMICAL HAZE - PANDORA
These States Have Legalized Weed in the USA Election Day 2020 added four more states to the ever-growing
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list: New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota, and Montana. Weed is so normalized in America that it’s hardly cool anymore. Once Martha Stewart, Elon Musk, and your aunt—not even the eccentric one—started talking about marijuana like it was ibuprofen, it felt like it lost its gloried grunge.
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Long gone are the days of dirty bongs, replaced by high-tech vaporizers and edibles ranging from extravagant chocolate candies to curated, catered dining experiences. Oh, and hundred-thousand-dollar bongs that are coveted like art, because they are art.
Brewers are dabbling in non-alcoholic THC beers, and the country’s first-ever weed restaurant, where you can smoke and dine in public without feeling anything more than your regular dose of paranoia, opened in West Hollywood. Weed has a golden cloud around it, where traditional fears have been replaced by excitement, at least on the grand scale. Obviously, legalization has a lot to do with that. In the U.S., recreational marijuana legalization is slowly eking out victories on a state-by-state basis. In the 2016 election, which was bad for most reasons but good for this one, four states got on board, raising the total to eight states to legalize since Colorado kicked off the movement in 2012. On the first day of 2020, Illinois became the
eleventh state in America to legalize weed, with lines snaking along blocks for hours on day one. And then, on Election Day 2020, another four states added their numbers to the growing pack: Arizona, New Jersey, Montana, and South Dakota. At this point, it's hardly a surprise that yet another state has decided to make itself a haven for marijuana users (as well as businesses tapping into the lucrative marijuana market). About one in three Americans now live where all adults have access to it, according to Politico. That's 93 million Americans. It looks like New York, Florida, and Ohio could pass legalization efforts in 2021 too. It looks like Europe is fastly losing out...
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3 Page
11
Understanding Edibles
...it’s all in the High...
Page
14
A Technical Breakdown About Lighting
An Interview With SANlight
Page
16
How to Harvest and Dry Outdoor Cannabis Plants
Page
22
Micro-dosing your way to productivity
Z Valley Positronics Seeds www.positronics.eu
Page
25
Wet or dry trimming? Which is better?
Quick Din a me D cBD Dinafem Seeds www.dinafem.org
5
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6
QUIZ
7. A. B. C. D.
Pests and disease Quiz 1. Where can Spider mites generally be found on your cannabis plants? A. Stem. B. Roots. C. Underside of leaves. D. Growing medium.
2. A. B. C. D.
How big are spider mites? up to 1mm. up to 10mm. up to 20mm. up to 30mm.
3. How many different species of spider mite are there? A. 1 – 10. B. 10 -100. C. 100 – 1000. D. over 1000.
4. Spidermites can reach breeding maturity in? A. 1 day. B. 5 days. C. 12 days. D. 24 days.
5. What is a good preventative measure against Spider mites? A. Higher EC/PPM. B. Lower EC/PPM. C. High grow temperature. D. Neem oil.
6. How does Neem oil work? A. Forms a protective barrier on the plant. B. Poisons the pests. C. Poisons the plants. D. Stops the pests reproducing.
What is a tell tail sign of aphids? Leaves going red. Strong, stale odour. Fine webbing between branches. Shiny trails on the leaves.
What is the most common colour of 8. Aphids? A. Red. B. White. C. Black. D. Green.
Why is it good practice to cover the 9. tops of your pots while growing? A. To reduce the risk of root aphids. B. To help your plant flower. C. To increase yields. D. To encourage root aphids.
10. What is a common way to get rid of pests in your grow room? A. Lights on for 48hours. B. Predator mites/ladybugs. C. Loud Music. D. Using a carbon filter.
11. What is a good way of keeping pests out of your grow room? A. Filter on the intake. B. Using an oscillating fan. C. Filter on the outtake. D. using LED’s.
12. What part of the plant does a systemic disease effect? A. Effects the whole plant. B. Effects only the leaves. C. Effects only the buds. D. Effects only the roots
13. Can pests pass disease on to your plants? A. Only while in Flower. B. Only while in Veg. C. No. D. Yes.
14. What is first sign that your plants may have Powdery mildew? A. Plant Hermaphrodites. B. White powder on the leaves. C. Darkening of the leaves. D. Black spots under the leaves.
15. Can powdery mildew be passed on when clones are taken from an infected plant? A. Yes, always. B. No, never. C. Sometimes. D. Only if there is powdery mildew on the clone before it is taken. 16. When would you use a smoke bomb? A. When the grow room is in flower. B. When the grow room is in Veg. C. When there are no plants in the grow room. D. When the grow room is full of plants.
17. What conditions does botrytis mould thrive in? A. Warm and damp. B. Dry and hot. C. Dry and cold. D. When lights are on.
18. What is Bud rot? A. Mouldy cannabis roots. B. Mouldy cannabis leaves. C. Mouldy cannabis stems. D. Mouldy cannabis flower.
19. Where is Pythium most commonly found? A. Buds. B. Stem. C. Branches. D. Roots.
20. What does Pythium do to the roots of your plant. A. Drys them out. B. Makes them slimy and rotten. C. No change. D. Turns them pink.
That's it! For answers see page 38
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9
Barney’s Farm strain story Words & Pics: Green Born Identity – G.B.I.
Shiskaberry: Right out of the indica picture book Barney’s Farm’s exquisite Cali collection currently includes 13 strains, and the almost pure indica (80%) Shiskaberry is one of them. Without a doubt a must-grow plant for the die-hard indica lover, The Doc! He would have taken her “blindly”, but was of course full of curiosity when he found out beforehand about the characteristics of this promising sounding variety. The Barney’s breeder have put a lot of work into its development and bred it for years to reach complete satisfaction. On the mother’s side, there’s an old acquaintance – the sublime fruit strain classic Blueberry. Shiskaberry’s father makes for for down-to-earth robustness and reliability, it’s a classic old-school Afghani. Hybridising these two resulted in a powerful indica plant with above-average indoors yields (500-600g/m2) produced within a fairly short flowering period of just 7-8 weeks. Outdoors it works very well, too, thanks to a pretty early finishing time under natural light in the third to fourth week of September.
sown aced germination, standing straight up above the surface after three days.
into a buddha, with the heartbeat of a blue whale
Due to their heavily indica dominant nature, The Doc gave his two Shiskaberry plants a vegging time of five weeks, which they really needed as they grew extremely tight-noded, evolving into ultra-compact bushes with dark green wide foliage. “One cannot see through them a single millimetre, as super-dense and multi-branched as they are”, reported The Doc at the end of the veggie stage:
That bewitching scent translated into a similarly bewitching taste when The Doc sampled Shiskaberry for the first time:
“these two plants are presenting themselves externally as some uniform fullblooded indicas with low heights of 29 and 33 cm. But through stretching whilst flowering, certainly more light will reach the side branches and encourage lush bud growth. To additionally support this, I’ve removed some of the big shade leaves. Not too much of course since they contain a lot of nutrients important for the energy budget of the plants.”
“What a delicious treat, and entirely fee of calories!”
A scintillating spectacle with thick buds and a sensational odour During the first four weeks of flowering, the two Shiskaberries stretched very well, indeed, so much so that that their canopy became more open and those many flower formations could develop vigorously. It was one scintillating spectacle. From The Doc’s grow diary:
Another plus factor for both outdoors and indoors, Shiskaberry’s mould resistance is rated at 4 on a scale out of 5, i.e. very good. Although being a rather short stature variety, with an extended vegging stage it has stunning outdoor yield potential of up to 1.52kg per plant.
The vegetative stage: ultra-compact bushes According to Barney’s, Shiskaberry is a very easy grow room companion with a difficulty level rated at 1, “easy-peasy“, as they say in California. Well, for the highly experienced master grower The Doc things don’t necessarily need to be easy, but of course he doesn’t mind growing uncomplicated strains as well. Just as expected, the two feminised seeds
“This is top-notch indica flower quality in the purest of forms! Almost even greater than looking at these buds though is smelling them – because the fragrance they’re exuding is simply awesome: As if one collected berries on a forest clearing, with the sun shining after rain, making the earthy spiciness of the damp forest soil rise up in the air, merging with a sweet and slightly tart berry scent into a heavy hearty aroma.”
Granite-hard buds sprang a happy yield surprise After precisely 56 days, at the very end of the finishing time stated by Barney’s, the two Shiskaberries were fully mature, allowing The Doc to carry out his harvest, “to pick some real fat canna-berries” he chuckled. One plant stood 59 cm tall at the end and the other one 72 cm, due to stronger branch elongation. Once again The Doc got a big surprise when he weighed the buds a few weeks later as the two Shiskaberry specimens just scraped past the 100-grams-per-plant-mark, yielding 198 grams altogether.
Getting high on Shiskaberry: The Doc turns
When the vapour out of his Mighty vaporizer wafted into his mouth, all taste buds signalled “this is berry-sweet spiciness to the max!” This full-mouth flavour also lingered on the palate for some time.
The Doc joked. Soon after two voluminous drafts of vapour, he felt a pleasant bodily warmth arising deep inside, flowing into his limbs and making them soft and relaxed. Simultaneously his head underwent a gentle THC massage that seemed to put a cushioning veil around it, keeping away any negative thoughts and putting him in a state of blissful content and deep relaxation. Over two hours later he was sitting on a big pillow like a grey-haired buddha whose heart was beating – or at least was perceived to be as slow as a blue whale’s. In conclusion, Doc said “Shiskaberry is a true champion strain right
out of the Indica picture book! She has proven to be great in every aspect, with an excellent growth and bloom performance, fat yields, an adorable flavour and a meditative euphoric effect that pampers body and mind. This plant has a special place in my heart.” www.barneysfarm.com
Cultivation data: Genetics
Shiskaberry (Blueberry x Afghan)
Vegetative stage
five weeks (after germination)
Flowering stage
56 days / 49-56 days in general
Medium
Plagron Grow Mix soil, 11 litre pots
pH
6.2-6.6
EC
1.2–1.8 mS
Light
up to 12 x SANlight S4W = 1680 watts
Temperature
19-28°C
Air humidity
40-60%
Watering
by hand
Fertilisation
Organic Bloom Liquid from Green Buzz Liquids
Additives/stimulants
Living Organics, More Roots, Humin Säure Plus, Big Fruits, Fast Buds and Clean Fruits from Green Buzz Liquids
Tools
CleanLight Pro for mould prevention
Height
59 + 72 cm
Yield
together, 198 grams
10
Interview
Richard Rose
By Fabrizio Dentini
Cannabis pioneer from California
Colorado has already gained a $1 billion from taxes. But where there's regulation, there's corruption. And the savings in enforcement costs is huge, as big as the black market was.
For British activists cannabis legalization is the goal to achieve. What kind of advice are you willing to share with them? Try for as little regulation as possible, just allow patients and adults to grow a few plants for themselves without fear. There is no need for a highly-regulated system, as that's just to be able to create a "Walmart of Marijuana," big companies selling it retail. Even the Drug Enforcement Administration called it "the safest therapeutic substance known to man," this is not a dangerous or hazardous plant and it doesn't need to be treated as one. Regulate Like Zucchini should be the first goal.
Is legalization itself an absolute positive issue or does it hide some negative side effects?
During a summer evening SSUK had the pleasure of meeting Richard Rose, an American citizen with a long career in cannabis activism. The following is the report of the pleasant chat we shared on the positives and negatives aspects of cannabis regulation in some American states.
this decision impacted on the American society? Forty-six of the 50 states have some form of Cannabis reform, however, it is still not actually legal yet in any of them. Like
SSUK: Richard, what made you nutty for cannabis? How did you develop this deep interest in the applications of this specific plant? I've used it as medicine starting in 1971, and it kept me alive. In 1972 I campaigned to legalize, California's first vote on it. Then after being an award-winning food developer and marketer using soya to make foods since 1980, in 1994 I pivoted to using hempseed instead. I ended up investing $2.5 million over the next 8 years to create the modern hemp food industry in the US and Canada. Today, that is hemp's first billion dollar industry. Today I just write and produce The Richard Rose Report and consult on hemp and marketing.
Can you report us what is going on on the other side of the ocean? In US several states did regulize already cannabis, how
and "high potential for abuse") so the market is not free but is highly regulated. Many are still arrested every year, 5.000 in Colorado and 6.000 in California. Marijuana taxes are used to raid the "competition" including patient grows. Even in Denver Colorado, growing just one plant outside in a locked and fenced yard, one can lose their house to asset forfeiture. It isn't legal, yet, just "legal." Rich old white guys are making millions on what people of color still sit in prison for. Taxes are high, and the massive savings in enforcement costs are ignored, never discussed or discounted. Heavily armed SWAT teams of police serve zoning violations on homeowners, with as much as $30.000 per day fines even in California. Constitutional protections are ignored daily with impunity.
What kind of influence has cannabis legalization on economical and social level?
psychedelics, marijuana is still Schedule 1 federally and in each state (the mostrestrictive category, "no medical value"
It has opened up the conversation in public. Stigmatized only a few years ago, there are now TV shows and movies about marijuana, and not just the "Cheech and Chong" type, but normalized ones. Even "Soccer moms" in the suburbs use it, and it seems everybody has a THC vape pen. Economically,
There is definitely a strongly net positive, although due to human nature there are some negatives but not because of the plant itself. The greed factor is the downside, but that's due to the law not the plant. There's been an increase of corruption among police, politicians, and regulators because of the money involved. Because the way they "legalized," there is a greater need for lawyers, police, consultants, lobbyists, and the companies selling it don't want increased competition. That means there's never been as many aligned against true legalization as today after "legalization." And the legalization organizations have a perverse disincentive to achieve true legalization, in order to keep their jobs. The heavy regulation has corrupted many politicians and regulators. And the companies which already have a license are in no hurry to see it descheduled or truly legalized, as that will increase competition for them. Scientific research is still very difficult, companies can't use banks, taxes are higher than normal businesses, hundreds of thousands of people still go to jail for growing or possessing, nationally, arrests didn't go down, there are still ~750,000 arrested annually, mostly people of color. US still hasn't achieved real legalization, it's more like "Prohibition 2.0." https://therichardrosereport.com
11
Background By Rich Hamilton
Understanding Edibles ...it’s all in the High...
a synthetic drug and can encourage the more unpleasant side effects of cannabis, such as paranoia and anxiety if dosed incorrectly. When you smoke cannabis the THC enters your bloodstream via the lungs and then travels around the body and to the brain. This is a quick route and as a result you tend to feel the resulting “high” in a matter of minutes. This is great if you feel you need something that can act quickly. With smoking or vaping the effect tend to peak within 30 minutes to an hour and then wear off between 2-4 hours later. THC is an oil and oil does not mix or break down easily in water and water is what most of your blood is made up of. This means that the THC inhaled from smoking in its Delta 9 form binds with any receptors in the body as quickly as it can and in smaller amounts as it cannot become fully soluble in the bloodstream.
“The difference between smoking and using edibles can be so vast, that some people consider them be different drugs altogether” Cannabis today is still most commonly consumed via combustion inhalation….aka smoking Flower. Vape’s have had a huge upturn in popularity but you may be surprised to know that in recent years it is edibles that have seen the biggest upward growth curve in both the legal and illegal markets. With this in mind we thought we would put together a guide as to what the differences are between inhalation and edible consumption, the science behind it and some advice on what to expect and how best to dose. First things first, we all know someone who has a “story” about a crazy, usually unpleasant experience that they have had after consuming too many edibles! I know I have. A good one I heard recently was that of 2 Cops from Toronto in 2018 who allegedly ended up getting themselves suspended for being under the influence of cannabis whilst on duty. They had taken so many edibles that they had called the cops on themselves! When their fellow offices arrived at the scene they were so far gone they had to be taken to hospital to recover. The main factor you need to understand about smoking and edibles is that the THC unleashed on your body will reveal itself in 2 very different ways. When you
smoke cannabis the THC is absorbed through your lungs and into your bloodstream and is known as “Delta-9 THC”. When you eat an edible however the THC takes a different path and travels through your digestive system,
eventually reaching your Liver and is converted into “11-hydroxy THC”. It is the differences between these 2 forms of THC that can cause such dramatically varied effects. “11-hydroxy THC” is much more potent and psychoactive and has the ability to activate more cannabinoid receptors in the brain than the delta-9 form can. 11-hydroxy THC also behaves more like
All in all this is why the THC effects from smoking in general appear to be milder and offer an over all more pleasant experience. The Delta 9 form of THC is taken in to the body in a moderate amount and goes on to bind with receptors to alleviate physical pain, inflammation and/or relieve stress and relax the body. The “receptors” we are talking about form a part of the body’s endocannabinoid system. This cell signalling system plays an important role in the body, helping to regulate functions such as mood, sleep, appetite, memory, chronic pain, stress and more. Receptors are found throughout the body and allow cannabinoids such as THC to bind to them to signal that something needs to happen. For example cannabinoids may bind to a receptor in a spinal nerve to relieve back pain or may bind to a receptor elsewhere to relieve inflammation. Basically if an outside force throws off your bodies balance either physically or mentally then it can be re-balanced via the endocannabinoid system and the cannabinoids that bind to its receptors. Some of these cannabinoids are made naturally in your body and are known as “endocannabinoids” and some such as THC and CBD come from outside sources such as cannabis. Obviously you can on occasion still go too far when smoking and feel unwell or “whitey” but this is nothing
12 in comparison to how intense things can get when you consume too many edibles? In contrast to smoking, you need to wait longer to feel the effects of an edible kick in, hence why people often take too much. This can be
Once you start eating an edible your saliva acts upon it and immediately starts to break it down, this continues via the acids in the stomach and so by time it reaches the liver it is readily and easily
converted into the stronger more psychoactive “11 hydroxy THC”. anything from 30 minutes, to an hour or sometimes more, as like any food you have to give it time to break down and be processed through your digestive system. Don’t be fooled though as when the THC does kick in it will hang around for much longer, on average between 4-6hrs. It will also pack a much heavier indica body stone along with varying degrees of cerebral effects which are not always pleasant! This is ideal if you are at home in a comfortable environment or want relief from chronic pain or a good nights sleep but not so good if you are at a party or a bar!
Unlike smoking, when you eat an edible no THC is absorbed straight into the bloodstream, it is all contained by the digestive system until it hits the liver. This means that there is a much larger amount of THC that is being converted in to a much stronger form, that is about to be unleashed in a much more potent manner on your body and mind. When the THC is processed into “11 hydroxy THC” it becomes much more water-soluble than the inhaled “delta 9 form. This means that when it is finally released into the bloodstream it mixes better and travels faster and more efficiently around the body, attaching to
many more endocannabinoid receptors in many more locations of the body. Additionally in this stronger more soluble form the THC has an easier time crossing the blood brain barrier, which is why you may experience more intense cerebral effects. The blood brain barrier is a protective boundary of cells and blood vessels around the brain that stops any potentially damaging levels of substances that have been introduced to the body from getting to the brain and causing unwanted or debilitating effects. Basically, this all explains why the effects of cannabis edibles can feel so dramatically different to those that you experience from smoking and why indeed it can feel like you have consumed 2 completely different substances. Small amounts of THC can be beneficial and enjoyable to experience, as is the case with smoking. Consuming overwhelming amounts of THC through edible use however can cause varying levels of unwanted and long lasting effects such as drowsiness, nausea, paranoia, stress and anxiety to name but a few. There are of course other practical factors which affect why edibles may hit harder, even if you feel that you have not gone overboard or you have been careful. Some people’s metabolisms are just more sensitive than others. Diet is a big factor too. Just like with alcohol, if you have not eaten much that day or you have a diet that is very low on starchy carbs or other essential nutrients then this can intensify the hit of the THC and make it feel much stronger.
Indulging in edibles alongside other prescription or recreational drugs such as alcohol can also shake things up (usually in a bad way) and mutate the effect that you get. It really can be a minefield trying to get the right dose especially if you are eating something someone else has made and you have no idea how much is in it or how strong it is. If you are able to buy legal product then do so as this is more reliably dosed and you know exactly what you are getting. Go for a product with a low THC mg content, anything that is 10mg or under per serving is considered low dose so this is a good place to start. If you do go overboard then there are several things that you can try that may help you out of the hole. If you can, try and sleep it off or at least find a quiet, comfortable place where you can at least shut your eyes, relax and drink plenty of water. A CBD Vape pen or other similar product could help to shorten the experience too as CBD is thought to be able to mitigate the effects of THC to some degree. In summary, I am not going to tell you that you shouldn’t indulge in edibles as they can offer you a great experience both recreationally and medicinally when used responsibly. The key is to remember that smoking and eating cannabis are two very different beasts. When you first start with edibles, proceed with caution and use your common sense. Always know what you are eating and start small and wait to see the effects before you get carried away, in both the metaphorical and literal sense.
14
Interview By Stoney Tark
A Technical Breakdown About Lighting An Interview With SANlight
Recently the break through in new horticultural lighting systems is at an all time high. With the choice between fluorescent, MH (metal halide), HPS (high pressure sodium), plasma and LED, Soft Secrets sat down with Martin Anker from SANlight in Austria, to get to breakdown the things we all want to know when it comes to lighting. From efficacy, photo active radiation, PPFD and the relationship Cannabis plants have with light. SSUK: Hello Martin, can you tell us your background and how you got started in Cannabis?
What is the difference in spectrums between metal halide, high pressure sodium and LED?
How are the SANlight made and what technology is being incorporated?
Are there any colours in the lighting spectrum Cannabis plants don’t really require?
I studied Mechatronics, and have been a passionate grower since 20 years. During my Master thesis I started experimenting with LED grow lights, and founded SANlight. So I combined my deep technical background with my passion. Today SANlight is one of the most successful LED light manufacturers. We are running different laboratories to analyse the effect from different light spectrums on plants, doing in house development and production, etc.
Due to technology metal halide and hight pressure sodium lamps has a pretty spiky spectrum. While metal halide lamps emit lots of light in region between 380nm and 580nm (blue/green colours) the HPS lights are more focused on light between 580nm and 680nm (orange/red colours). With LED technology we can build broadband light spectrums which include everything between 380nm and 730nm. For sure not every possible spectrum has the efficacy needed to build up an energy saving led fixture.
We are continuously doing research on light spectrums and always have a look on the newest LED technology. SANlight Q-Series Gen2 is working with newest Osram 2mm2 chip technology. In comparison to other LEDs like midpower or COB the lifetime is much higher. This means a grower can use the light many years longer. Our highly efficient LED chips are covered by an own developed secondary optics, which targets the light to the canopy and protect the LEDs against dirt etc.
That’s a tricky question. We are doing now research for 8 years for that. Today's answer is that cannabis can use every photon between 380nm and 730nm. Photons in the PAR region do contribute to photosensitises, while UV and Far Red light helps to control drug content and morphogenesis. But on one hand not every light colour can be produced in the same efficacy on the second hand plants do not handle ever photon with the same quantum efficiency. Creating a light spectrum for cannabis
15
means to find the middle between maximum efficacy from an electrical point of view (PPF/J), maximum efficacy from the biological point of few. Additionally, the morphogenesis should be right.
How intense should lighting be during seedling and the vegetative period of 18/6? Intensities relate to the light spectrum. That means there is no totally clear answer. In general, we recommend 100 – 200µmol/m2/s rooting of clones. Seedling and vegetative period can be done with 200 – 400µmol/m2/s.
Which type of light do clones require to produce healthy roots? A high portion of blue light combined with a nice far-red/red ratio will produce healthy roots. It’s important that a “rooting” spectrum do not drive photosynthesis to the maximum, as this will cause deficiencies at the unrooted clone.
When do you know if the plants are receiving too little or too much light? To little light can be detected by having a look at the elongation in vegetative phase. Bleaching is an indicator for too
much light. That means plants are reducing chlorophyll and leaves are getting white therefor.
What is PAR and why is it important when growing Cannabis? PAR is the short cut for Photosynthetic Active Radiation. It’s all light between 400nm and 700nm (blue – red). As higher the amount of PAR light as more photosynthesis. But photosynthesis is not a linear function. Following doubling the PAR does not generally mean doubling photosynthesis.
Can you explain the difference between Lumens and PAR? While PAR is a function which is not weighing different colours, Lumens weight green light more than e.g. red light. Lumens represent the sensitivity from the human eye, which see green light best. You can use PAR or PPF to qualify your lighting set up.
Is there a formula to calculate PAR produced by a HPS? Normally for an HPS bulb you will find PPF output in the data sheet. But this does not include the losses from reflector and ballast. A good single ended 600W HPS bulb generates roughly 1.100µmol/s. The whole system output depending
on the efficacy of ballast and reflector is somewhere between 820 and 850µmol/s. Following losses from reflector and ballast are between 23 to 25%.
What are the key points a grower should be paying attention to when looking at investing in a horticultural grow light? Every light has advantages and disadvantages. So, the question is, does my light fit to my personal requirements? For example, a very professional HPS system which has ballast and reflector in one fixture is mostly made for greenhouses. That means it’s working in a greenhouse very well, but in a grow tent this lamp will have insufficient light distribution because it’s optimised for high distance usage. In general, a grower should look at the given PPF values on the data sheet, and the light distribution. As good LED fixtures are a bigger invest, someone should check the lifetime too. Lifetime means how long can the fixture be running till 90% of the light output is reached. There are very big differences. Many actual LEDs on the market has losses up to 7% after 6.000h of usage. Also, important to check if its possible to clean the light. LED fixtures without protection covering or lenses are difficult to clean from pollen, resin etc. That means
the degradation because of dirt is higher as the degradation from the led itself.
Can you explain what causes Cannabis plants to stretch, and is there a way to control it? In general far red light or better the relationship between far red and red light influences stretching of the plant. But also, other colours/wavelength has influences on stretching behaviour. Also, the light intensity influence the stretch very strong. Growers can control stretching by changing light intensities at canopy level. If plant stays too short → reduce light intensity. If plant is growing too stretched → increase light intensity.
What are your top tips for growing in the vegetative stage and flower? Using LED lights has big influences on humidity in your grow room. Following its important to check the VPD levels regularly. As you have 6h more time to power up the plant with photons in veg phase the needed intensity can/should be lower. We recommend 300 – 400µmol/m2/s at canopy level. As a grower is reducing the day length for flowering, he need then higher intensities like 600µmol/m2/s+ Thanks for this fascinating interview, Martin!
16
Outdoor 2020 By Macky
How to Harvest and Dry Outdoor Cannabis Plants
As the grow season comes to an end, the inevitable harvest approaches. This is a time all growers look forward to, but it is not always an easy job. The bigger your plants are, the longer it will take for them to be harvested. You need to have all of the right tools in place, and have a good plan of what you're going to do to make the harvest as easy as possible. This may start out fun, but after a few hours of trimming, it can get tiresome. Being properly prepared for harvest will make the whole process easier on you, and the plants. Firstly, you should make sure your plants are ready for harvest! You can do that by checking the trichomes on the buds. If you need a guide on how to do this, then visit Soft Secrets website. But for now we are going to assume you have checked, and your plants are ready for harvest. Now all you have to do is chop them down.
Best Way to Chop Down a Cannabis Plant
Cannabis plants grown outdoors can grow up to ten feet in height! Some plants remain small, especially if
remove branches one by one and hang them individually. This should be done as early in the day as possible. Preferably before sunrise.
Hanging the Branches
growing auto flowering plants. The best practise is to chop the plant down at the bottom of the main stem, removing it completely from the root ball. If the plant is only a few feet tall, then this is easy to do. From there, you will remove branches, one by one, and trim the large fan leaves off, as well as the “sugar leaves”. If your plant is too big to be hung upside down, then you need to
Once removed from the main stem, branches will need to be hung upside down, preferably in a dark place. The drying area should be set up before you start chopping, so you can chop branches off the plant and immediately hang them and move onto the next one. When hanging the branches, they should not touch each other, and a light breeze should be blowing around them whilst they hang. This will reduce the chances of mould spores germinating. After the whole plant has been chopped down, and all of the branches are hanging, you will move onto the main trim.
Best Way to Trim Buds
There are many ways to trim your buds after harvest. But most growers will simply get some scissors, and begin chopping leaves off the plant.
Some growers will use electronic trimming machines, which will reduce the amount of time the harvest takes, but they are expensive. Prepare! Before you start to trim your plants, you will need a few pairs of good scissors. One large pair for trimming strong branches, and a couple of small pairs for trimming the smaller leaves. Roll your joints before you start, and prepare some cannabis podcasts to listen to for a few hours to help pass the time. We recommend “High on Home Grown”, as it is funny and informative, and is perfect listening material for harvest time. Also, you should wear latex gloves. This will stop your hands from getting sticky, and collect resins as you trim the buds. These can be put in the freezer after harvest and the resins can be removed and smoked. You can also do this with your scissors. Trim Trim Trim Once you're all set, take one of the untrimmed hanging branches, and start removing all of the big fan leaves, as close to the stem as possible. These are easy to get to. Then it's time for the finer leaves. This can take a while. But it is a good idea to remove the big leaves first and throw them away. Then save the tip leaves as you trim them off, for making hash or edibles after harvest from them. Take your time, but it doesn't have to be perfect. A harvest can take a long time, and some of these smaller leaves can be removed when the buds are dry. After you have trimmed the bud to your satisfaction, you should hang it, in a cool dark place, and move onto the next branch. This will take a long time for big plants, but the work is worth it after harvest! The buds will be dry enough to smoke around 1 week after harvesting if they are dried correctly.
How to Dry Buds after Harvest
After hours of trimming, all of the buds should be hanging in a dark cool place with a constant breeze moving around the drying room. This is a very important step, if it isn't done right you can ruin the whole grow. Dry too quickly and the cannabis will be harsh to smoke. Leave it too long, and it will go mouldy and be unusable. On average, smaller buds will be dry within 5 days, and medium sized buds within a week. But bigger colas can take 10 days or even 2 weeks to dry.
17 Buds should hang at around 20c, with a small oscillating fan blowing air around the drying room, but not directly at the buds! Humidity will rise in the first couple of days but should settle to around 55% on day three. The smell will fade from the flower and it will smell like grass for a few days too. Don't worry, this is part of the drying process and the smell will return as the buds dry, and they are cured.
How to Check Buds are Dry You can tell when the buds are dry
by bending the stems and seeing if they snap. If you bend it, and the stem bends, there is still too much moisture in the buds and they should hang for longer. On the other hand, if you bend the stem, and it snaps clean in half, the buds are dry enough to be removed from the branches and put in jars or containers for curing. This whole process can take a couple of weeks, and it is very important that you take your time and dry your
buds correctly. If not done right, you can ruin months of work, and your cannabis will not be enjoyable. Wait until it is dry, and then cure the buds for at least a week. For a guide on how to cure your buds, check out the next issue of Soft Secrets! In the next episode we cover how to get the best taste from your buds by curing them correctly. Good luck with your harvest, and don't forget to share your pictures on the Soft Secrets Social networks!
Curing Cannabis The final stage in any grow, is one that is often overlooked. But it is one of the most important stages if you want high quality cannabis. This stage is known as curing. When cannabis is dried after harvest, usually the outside of the buds can feel dry, but the inside still has plenty of moisture trapped inside it. The process of curing, will slowly bring this moisture out of the centre, and disperse it evenly around the buds. Curing allows the buds to dry more evenly, and at a slower rate than drying alone. It will prevent your buds from becoming too dry, and release the best of the smells and flavours. It is a simple process that can turn average cannabis into top shelf weed. All you need is some airtight containers, and some patience. But even after a few days of curing, you will notice a big difference in the quality of your buds. How Cannabis is Cured
Cannabis is cured by placing it into an airtight container. The moisture trapped on the inside of the bud will then disperse throughout the whole bud. The moisture will then evaporate from the outer surface of the bud, and into the air inside the container.
As the level of humidity rises inside of the containers, they are opened to let this humid air out. This is called “burping”. After ten to fifteen minutes of burping, the containers are closed again, and the process is repeated until the buds are at the desired texture.
Curing cannabis will take at least a week, but can go on for months. The longer it cures, the better the cannabis will be. It’s all about bringing out the moisture in the centre of the buds slowly. This gives more time for the starches and sugars to be broken down inside of the plant matter.
What Happens to the Buds During Curing?
As cannabis dries, moisture will escape from the outer surface of the buds, and evaporate into the air around it. The moisture needs to make its way to the surface before this can happen. There are sugars and starches inside of your cannabis plants that will give it a harsh taste if smoked. These will be broken down by the plant as it dries. But, once the bud is dry, these sugars and starches will not be able to be broken down. By drawing out the moisture in the centre of the buds slowly, you will give the plant more time to break down the starches inside the plant matter. If the plant is dried too quickly, these starches will be left behind and cause the buds to taste like grass, and be harsh to smoke. So, though your cannabis might feel dry on the outside, there is still plenty of moisture trapped in the middle. By extracting this moisture slowly, through curing, you allow the plant to break down the sugars and starches, for a longer period of time. This will massively improve the quality of your buds.
How to Cure Cannabis
As you have read so far, to cure your cannabis, you need to draw the moisture out of the centre of the buds, so it can evaporate. To do this, you need to seal the buds in airtight containers. This can be glass jars, or plastics tubs, as long as it is airtight, it is good to use. Begin by making sure any container you use is clean, and air tight. Fill it with water, seal it, and see if it leaks. If it leaks, then it isn't airtight, and you should use another container. Make sure the containers you use are dry before placing buds in them, and any residual smell from cleaning agents have gone. Place your dry buds, into the container, and fill it no more than 2/3rds full! You need to leave some air in the top of the container. Onces 2/3rds full, seal the container, and put it in a cool dark place for around 24 hours. During this time, the moisture in
18
the centre of the buds will spread evenly around the rest of the bud. It will then reach the surface and start evaporating into the air at the top of the containers. Which will increase humidity inside of the containers. After 24 hours, you will open the containers, and let the old humid air out. Leave
If the humidity inside of the container is over 62%, then you should burp the containers. On the other hand, if the humidity inside of the containers is below 58%, you do not need to burp the jars again. In some circumstances, you may over dry the buds during curing. Or maybe you want to store your buds for long periods
As long as the cannabis is stored properly, and at the right humidity levels, it can be used for many months after harvest. them open for 10 - 15 minutes, and then seal them again. Shake the containers before placing them back into storage. Repeat this process every day, until the buds are at the desired texture. Most growers will tend to store their buds at 58-62% humidity inside of the containers. You can monitor the humidity inside of the jars with small humidity monitors.
Humidity Sensors and Packs
To keep track of the humidity inside of your jars or plastic tubs, you can use humidity sensors inside the container with the buds. These will show clearly, what the humidity is inside the jars and whether they should be burped or not.
of time. To keep the buds inside of the container at the correct level you can use “humidity packs”. These can be bought at 58%, or 62%. If they are placed into the container with your buds, they will keep the air inside the containers at an optimal level for curing.
How Long to Cure
Curing should take at least 2 weeks. Some growers will store and cure their buds for 6 months before using it. As long as the cannabis is stored properly, and at the right humidity levels, it can be used for many months after harvest. Once the humidity inside of the containers has reached a stable level, there is no reason to burp the jars every day. You
may want to open it a couple of times a week just to let old air out, but do not leave the jars open for too long. Holding in that moisture, so it can break down more and more sugars and starches will bring you better buds, with great flavour and potency. The longer you can cure for, the better the buds will be. Try it! Curing is an important part of your grow. The work is not complete when the buds are dry. To bring out
the very best of your grow, you need to cure the weed for at least 2 weeks after it has dried. This is when the buds will really start showing their potential. Using the buds before then is fine, but you will see a massive improvement if you cured for a while first. This was the last part of my outdoor series. Thanks for reading everyone! Signing out, Macky.
Advanced Hydroponics of Holland since 1993
We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy Growing 2021
22
Grow with Rich Hamilton
Micro-dosing your way to productivity 2020 has been a strange year. In one way or another no one has escaped the effects of the worldwide pandemic that COVID-19 has brought upon us. Widespread lockdowns have changed the way we live, work and socialise and has played havoc on our mental well being. More people than ever are working from home and having to juggle those demands with family and care responsibilities, or loneliness and isolation if they live alone. Many have been laid off work, allowing for lethargy and boredom to creep in as people become de-motivated and disconnected from the world as they knew it. We are all looking for ways to stimulate ourselves and find coping mechanisms to deal with the anxiety, depression or stress that these uncertain times has created. Ask most cannabis users if their consumption has changed during lockdown and the majority (who are being honest) will admit that it has
explore the potential for new ways to use cannabis to deal with these new challenges that have changed life as we knew it! Micro-dosing is essentially what it says. It’s taking “micro” “doses” of cannabis to give you the effects that you want but without the full psychoactive impact that can completely overwhelm you and your ability to get on with the rest of your day. Many people find that they experience better results from microdosing compared to when they take larger doses. Blasting your body with a high dose of cannabis does not always give you the effect that you
experts agree that the best way to take advantage of the plant’s full range of therapeutic powers and not just the psychoactive ones is by using a low regular dosage. THC has so much more to it than just getting you “high”. It is a powerful pain reliever, has inflammatory properties and is a great aid for overcoming insomnia and inducing a relaxed state of mind. It will only provide relief up to a point though. Once you have passed that point or “optimum dosage” the THC stops encouraging relaxation and relief of mental and physical ailments and instead will start triggering debilitating conditions. Anxiety being a perfect example of this. Medically, there is some proof in this idea. One study from 2012 showed that cancer patients who were treated with cannabis medication varying in strength from high to medium to low, saw the most reduction in pain from taking the lowest dosage.t Another study from 2014 which focused on treating PTSD sufferers revealed a low dose of “Nabilone” (a synthetic cannabinoid medicine) was very successful in eliminating symptoms. This was as well as also helping to reduce levels of insomnia, nightmares and physical pain.
increased as they attempt to keep spinning all the plates that every day life throws at them.
are looking for and in some cases it can worsen the exact symptoms that you are trying to relieve.
So where does the happy medium lie? Well, the answer may be in “microdosing”. With the current world health crisis not going away any time soon, never has there been a better time to
This is because of the “dose-effect curve”. With most medicines the larger the dose, the stronger the medicinal effects but this is not always the case with cannabis. Many
In every day life and away from the research papers you will find many people who agree that micro-dosing whilst undertaking work tasks and the demands of everyday life, makes them feel more energised, creative, focused and confident in themselves and the work that they are doing. This is in direct contrast to how some would feel if they lay on the couch, smoked a whole joint of their best
stuff and then tried to get up and do a days work. If you are thinking of trying microdosing then a good place to start is with 1-2.5mg of THC per dose. You should maintain this for at least 2 days and then if necessary increase your dosage by 1mg at a time until you achieve your desired state. If you’re a regular or heavy cannabis user with a high tolerance then it is advisable to abstain completely for at least 2 days before you begin microdosing as otherwise you may struggle to feel the effects at all. Method of ingestion is an important factor to consider when microdosing. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere where cannabis and all its derived products are legal then you will have a world of choice to select from. Edibles, oils, tinctures, candies and gummies are just a small selection of the range available, some of which are even conveniently packaged in micro-dosed portions of around 1-2mg. When buying bigger products that are not solely specified for micro-dosing such as oils or a chocolate however you should look for ones that have a lower THC content (anything with under 10mg THC per serving is considered “low dose”). For example, a bar of infused chocolate with a total content of 5mg THC will be easier for you to micro-dose with than a bar that has say 20 mgs. Another tip is to look for a product with a higher ratio of CBD alongside a lower ratio of THC too. This ensures that you benefit from the well documented “entourage effect” where you are taking in a fuller spectrum of cannabinoids for enhanced effects.
23 CBD also boasts many of its own special attributes that you can take advantage of, such as its power to ease anxiety and the fact that it can help to dampen down the psychoactive effects of THC, which is part of the aim with micro-dosing. If smoking or vaping is your thing then there are products available such as calibrated vape pens that cleverly deliver a measured hit each time you inhale and vibrate to tell you when you have taken the micro dosed amount. If you are still in the majority however and live somewhere where cannabis and its products are illegal then it can be more tricky to micro-dose as accurately, but it is still possible. The key is to know what you are using in the first place, so don’t just go buying something off a stranger who has no idea what the THC % of your Flower or product is. Ideally grow your own or plants or buy flower from someone who you trust and can tell you exactly what it is and how strong it is. Ideally something with a low THC content and a higher than normal CBD level in order to encourage the positive effects of your micro-dosing. Making edibles can be easy and effective as long as you follow the correct method and there are loads of recipes and tools out there to help you do so. Once you have your finished edible or oil it is just a matter
are using and the decarboxylation process, you will still find that dosages in home made edibles and oils will often vary in potency. Smoking and vaping the old fashioned way is not the most accurate method to micro-dose as it is difficult to know how much cannabinoid you are getting in each hit and to make that consistent. It is a very convenient way to do it though and if you are not too concerned about getting a completely exact dose each time then it is a good place to start. Try a lower strength flower or vape oil and just limit yourself to one/two puffs every so often. It will take a bit of experimentation to find the right level but once you do,
Blasting your body with a high dose of cannabis does not always give you the effect that you are looking for of then portioning it out accurately to allow for micro-dosing. You can do this by measuring, weighing or by using special moulds to make items such as individual gummies, candies or chocolates. There are many conversion charts and calculators online that will help you work out how many mg of active cannabinoid each dose should/can contain. This is as long as you know what you were working with to start with! Home made Oils can be easier to micro dose than edibles as you can just use a dropper to ensure that you are taking even doses each time. Over all however, due to the stability and make up of the other ingredients you
this can be an easy way to feel the benefits of micro-dosing. One of the great things about using cannabis as a medicine is the personalisation it allows you, not only via the ingestion method you choose but also in the dose. The ultimate goal of micro-dosing is to find the lowest most effective dose for each individual. A dose that delivers what you need when you need it but without overpowering you or your abilities to get on with the day. With the “new normal” that we are all facing in 2020 and beyond, microdosing could indeed be the key to making you happier and more productive at home and at work!
Mr. Ge l ato Ice M r. H i d e S e e d s www.mrhideseeds.com
25
Grow with Mr. Jose Mr. José / info@pestovat.cz
What is better :
wet or dry trimming?
There is presumably no right answer to this question. Everybody must decide for themselves whether to remove the leaves from cannabis plants immediately after harvest or to let them dry first. What I can do is to lay down before you all the essential information about the advantages and disadvantages of both methods so that you can choose whichever technique suits you better.
at the stem. Nonetheless I still have scissors on hand in case some leaves cannot be removed well or when they are torn along with the stem and remove also flowers below. It is not always necessary to remove small leaves as a whole – it depends on their size. The smallest ones can be left in buds, medium-sized ones can be cut in place where they protrude from the flower. Small leaves richly covered with resin, whose petiole already begins to protrude from the flower, should be removed completely, even with the petiole, because neither taste nor aroma is improved with it. This procedure leads to seemingly attractive buds with maximum emphasis on great taste. It should be noted that by leaving small petioles and medium-sized sugar leaves on your buds, the harvest weights more. In larger volumes, this can make a difference equal to a decent extra profit, which benefits many black market dealers.
Wet trim
Durban Poison before and after removing large leaves.
A little bit of plant anatomy
As readers of Soft Secrets magazine, I do not doubt that you are interested in female cannabis flowers. Or more precisely – you are interested in the resin produced by glandular trichomes. The most glandular trichomes can be found on female flowers’ calyxes. And from the flowers, there are also two types of leaves protruding. One large, characterized by a thicker and longer petiole, a large leaf area and a relatively small number of glandular trichomes, which are concentrated at the base of the blades. These leaves usually consist of five to seven small leaves and are a characteristic sign of cannabis. They grow from stems and branches at all levels of the plant and play an essential role in the assimilation of light energy. Also, they are of great importance in the process called transpiration, as they have closable vents that determine how quickly and how much water evaporates from the plant. The second type of leaves has the same functions but is smaller and its weak petioles do not protrude from the flower. These leaves often have a smaller number of tiny leaves, but they are covered in glandular trichomes. In English, the term fan leaves is used for larger leaves and sugar leaves for
smaller one. Smaller leaves have earned being named after sugar thanks to a high density of glandular trichomes, which make them look sugary. These two types of leaves play a crucial role in trimming the harvest.
Why and how to (not) cut the leaves
Whether you remove the leaves immediately after harvest or later when the plants are dry, you do so for two reasons. The large leaves are practically absent of trichomes; thus they contain very low amounts of cannabinoids and terpenes. When smoking or vaporizing, large leaves significantly worsen the taste, due to the high content of chlorophyll and negligible presence of resin with terpenes. Although small leaves are significantly more potent, they also have a negative effect on the taste of flowers. In short, you can expect the finest taste and aroma from flowers without leaves. There is a general agreement about removing large leaves – be it fresh or dry – as they are of no use for most growers. The situation is different in case of smaller leaves. These can serve as protection of flowers against mechanical damage and rapid drying. If you decide to leave small leaves on your buds, you can remove them just before smoking. Of
course, they can also be consumed along with the bud at the cost of a slight deterioration in taste. Trimmed leaves always come in handy. While large leaves are best suited for making creams and ointments, small leaves have much broader potential. They can be used for various types of extractions,
Most grower removes large and small leaves immediately after harvest. This method carries several advantages. Fresh plants are flexible, being easier to handle when trimming. You can easily open the buds and remove all the unwanted leaves without damaging the flowers. Another important advantage is a lower risk of resin falling off. Fresh trichomes remain flexible and firmly attached to the calyxes and leaves. Also the resin separates less than when handling dry material. This is especially important for machine trimming. If you are struggling with a lack of space for drying flowers, trimming wet plants is again a better solution for you. Usually, fresh buds are removed directly from large branches and can then be spread on various drying sieves. In addition, they can be placed on top of each other, so you do not really need that much space compared to drying whole
With dry buds, you can tell exactly which small leaves need to be removed from the flowers and which ones can stay. soaked in spirits, added in food and for above mentioned ointments and similar preparations applied to the skin. In case of emergency, they can of course be smoked, too. To remove the leaves, it is advisable to use pointed scissors in order to precisely remove the leaves even with the petiole. I personally remove large leaves by hand. It is faster and with a little exercise the petiole breaks right
plants. Drying this way takes less time and can take from four to ten days, depending on the climatic conditions on site. However some growers prefer to trim only the leaves and leave the flowers on the branches. This slows down the drying time, which can have a positive effect on the quality of flowers, especially if the plants are drying in a warmer and drier climate. In this case, another advantage is that buds preserve their natural shape. When drying on a
26 remaining leaves would protrude. With dry buds, you can tell exactly which leaves need to be removed from the flowers and which can stay. Whole plants dry longer, but this can have a positive effect on the taste and smell of the final product. The drying time usually ranges from seven to fourteen days. When trimming dry plants, your tools and hands will not get so sticky. In addition, if you place a sieve suitable for resin collection under the trimmed buds, you will end up with a decent portion of high-quality hashish ready for use. Even dry trimming has certain disadvantages. The first has to do with the process of drying – when buds are covered by leaves, the risk of mold increases. Whole plants should be dried in well-ventilated areas at a temperature of around 18 °C. Glandular trichomes do not hold as well on dry parts of plants as on fresh ones, and they break and fall off easily. Even the resin balls can fall off very easily and quickly from dry trichomes. When trimming dry plants, it is therefore necessary to work efficiently and with sensitivity and to try damage the plants as little as possible. Small leaves called sugar leaves are soaking in resin.
Manual work and machines
Trimming buds is a tedious and rather sieve, larger sticks may flatten on the side on which they lie. Drying whole plants after trimming large and small leaves is de facto method combining wet and dry trimming. Wet trim has some disadvantages, too. Scissors, hands, and other tools are very sticky because of the resin, which is pretty hard to remove. Of course, this can be solved by using latex gloves and frequent cleaning of the
tools with alcohol. But, obviously, do not throw away the resin, it has a high concentration of cannabinoids as well as terpenes.
Dry trim
I practiced dry trimming for quite a long time. It is more laborious, yet it allows you to control fully the appearance of the final product. When trimming fresh buds, you one cannot tell how much the major parts would dry out and how much the
boring job. Still, most home growers manage to handle the process simply with their own hands and scissors. When it comes to commercial growers, many still prefer manual work, too. We can say that manual trimming is more precise and helps achieve the highest quality, provided the fact it is done correctly. In countries where cannabis cultivation is legal, there are groups of professional trimmers who work according to the harvest schedule of their customers – official growers. They come, trim, get paid and move onto the next stage. Nevertheless, there are machines for everything nowadays, and trimming makes no exception. While a few years ago the machines were only good for trimming fresh buds, today you can easily buy a machine that can handle even dry flowers. It makes post-harvest works significantly faster, especially if you harvest tens, hundreds, or thousands of pounds. The trimming quality is pretty high, but my personal opinion is that with manual trimming, the buds are less damaged, the results look better and there is less waste. Of course, this does not mean that I disapprove the cutting machines. On the contrary, I use them myself. The last issue that needs to be solved regarding the machines is to make their cleaning easier. And what is your preferred method of trimming plants?
Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Indoor Cannabis Growing
Order Now at: mrjose.eu Glandular trichomes cover the entire area of the calyxes.
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Cannabis events
Greenhouse Tech The Future
By Rich Hamilton
boost in production, yields and quality that a full, robust data-driven growing system such as this could provide to commercial cannabis farmers. As well as DDG looking to improve the health and yields of species of plants, there are also moves focused on helping the production of healthier, more productive and desirable strains of plants such as cannabis from the earliest point of the farming process, the seed.
Technological innovation never stops. We rely on the power of machines, robots and computers to do something for us, faster, more accurately and more efficiently. The commercial farming and horticulture industry is no exception to this. The legalisation of cannabis and the COVID crisis has led to a considerable demand rise for cannabis, meaning more product and faster production to meet that demand. Producers are also looking for ways to keep costs down and make production more automated in an attempt to save on wages and overheads, again in the face of challenging times that the COVID public health crisis has brought upon us. The recent "Green Tech Amsterdam" event took place online in June and showcased some of the new products and ideas from the companies leading the way in greenhouse technology. "Green Tech" is the leading platform for the protected horticulture technology industry. It focuses on technological advances in the world of greenhouse horticulture for soft food crops such as veggies and fruits along with the cultivation of medicinal cannabis. Here we will have a closer look at some of the newest developments in greenhouse tech and what they mean for the future of indoor cannabis production. There are many innovations used in commercial growing that assist
with plant nutrition, biological crop protection, climate control and optimal light spectrum. All of which helps to eliminate human error and provide a much more accurate set of data to work from than any traditional farming method allows. Using Autonomous cultivation systems and AI algorithms allows the grower to define set points for temperature, light amount, heating, co2 concentration, and other cultivation-related parameters such as plant and stem density and fruit pruning. Not only can it save money, but it can also make production more sustainable as energy waste becomes minimal due to the whole cultivation process becoming optimised. Data-driven growing or DDG is continually evolving, and letsgrow. com are one of the companies at the forefront of that trend, helping fruit, veg, flower and cannabis growers make the transition from traditional farming to data-driven farming. To achieve this hardware is used that can help indoor crop cultivators with optimisation to the point where they can expect to use 20% less water gas and fertiliser while increasing their overall production by
over 10%. Growers can personalise their programmes to meet their specific needs, choosing between optimising quality, increasing production and limiting energy usage. The data is analysed and combined with plant physiological models, field expertise and experience to see what your plants need and when they need it. An excellent example of what this system is capable of is the way that it can assess to what extent the plant uses collected light for photosynthesis and then adjust this as necessary. The "crop observer" system measures photosynthesis by using an "evaporation and stomata sensor" to monitor the position of the stomata and the energy and water balance, so, whether the plant is in balance or stressed. Collated data is then analysed, and a new calculation is made based on what the correct light intensity for optimal growth should be considering the current circumstances and readings. This kind of detail and level of analysis is astounding and is proven to work with at least a 5% rise in production reported as a result of using this one tool alone. You can only imagine; therefore, the kind of
Plantik biosciences is a European company that specialises in plant breeding technology, and who are currently running a smart breeding programme. The programme is a combination of 3 technologies, gene editing, bioinformatics ( the analysing of complex biological data) and speed breeding which aims to eliminate the degree of randomness that you find in traditional breeding. All of these aspects combined will allow for the production of new plant varieties to meet market demands up to 10 times faster than is currently possible and with more precision. Presently, it can take years to perfect a stable and commercially attractive plant variety. With demand for food crops and cannabis ever on the up; however, this time frame cannot sustain either future food security or solve the challenges presented by climate change. If Plantiks breeding programme is successful, it will allow cannabis breeders to create stable genetics, faster. Additionally, Plantik is also working on creating strains with reliable resistances against current diseases along with plant strains suitable for growing in different climates and light conditions. Something which could revolutionise the practice of growing cannabis for hobbyists and large scale commercial growers alike. New commercial and medicinal strains could be introduced within 6-18 months to meet market demands, whereas currently, such a process can take eight years or longer. The first plant that Plantik are working on is industrial hemp which is as an ideal choice due to its potential uses in the field of health, nutrition and sustainability. Due to the challenges of COVID 19, food safety, food waste, movement of goods, people and availability of employees
29 have all become an issue this year, and this has reflected in innovation in all areas of horticulture. One of these areas being the growing systems used in commercial greenhouse farming. The "Vertical Farming" system could be the answer to a lot of the problems that the pandemic has spawned. Here's why. In a vertical farming system Herbs (including cannabis) Leafy greens and micro-greens can be grown all year round in a closed environment that is less affect ted by climate and where
compliment ventilation and light systems. The use of a microbial powder coats the racks, preventing mould and bacteria growth. An anti-fungal finish completes things and makes for a stain and scratch-resistant product. Cannabis demand is growing in both medical and recreational markets; however, many commercial producers are struggling to upscale due to expensive land costs and warehouse rents. Vertical farming technology is so useful in this respect as it addresses
This year has been a great example of how the world is starting to view controlled environment gardening and vertical farming as the "plan B" of agriculture, a way to feed the world if/ when traditional agriculture cannot meet our needs. The level of research, experimentation and innovation will continue to increase given the current pandemic situation and the growing food shortages that already exist in the less developed parts of the world. These developments are nothing but good news for cannabis producers and
on a commercial scale and that it does not relate to the hobbyist grower, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
end-users alike as it can only lead to more choice and better quality, more sustainable product.
and suspicious, preferring to stick to the old fashioned and traditional ways of doing things, I think that on the whole, we should all try and embrace these new ideas in our Grow rooms. In the world, we live in today, and with the many challenges we face, the benefits can only outweigh the negatives.
All this technology will eventually trickle down the horticulture hierarchy. The ideas may be adapted to fit, but there is little doubt that in some way in the future, these technologies will become a regular feature in many grow rooms. Technological evolution is a natural progression in today's world; you can't escape it. Whilst many remain cautious
fewer "food" miles are needed. Vertical farming sees less dependence on imports and physical human resources. Space increases to a maximum, the carbon footprint decreases to a minimum and operations become cleaner along with improvement in safety, security and traceability. Montel is a company, which specialises in commercial vertical farming racks, founded in 1924, and their latest designs are as high tech and efficient as it gets featuring many attractive qualities for the commercial greenhouse cannabis grower and food producer alike. The newest models are lightweight, rustresistant and able to withstand weights of up to 8000lb per bay. They all have fantastic inbuilt irrigation technologies and can be used in either static position or in a mobile form which expands on demand. The racking systems can also be produced to Custom, to accommodate monitoring equipment that can read and track the health of each plant. Frames are built with precision to provide better airflow and to
the priorities of space, whilst securing if not improving yields and profit thanks to the tons of holding power that these racking systems have. Handles on the ends of the racking systems allow for hundreds of plants to be rotated for close monitoring, easy access, individual maintenance, care and security.
The ideas we have looked at are just a small example of the types of technology that are currently under development. You may think that this innovation only applies
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Grow with Jorge Cervantes By Jorge Cervantes – jorge@marijuanagrowing.com
Irrigation Large plants use more water than small plants,
but there are many more variables than size that dictate a plant's water consumption. Some of the variables include, variety and age of the plant, container size, growing medium, temperature, humidity and ventilation all contribute to water needs. Change any one of these variables and the water consumption will change. Good
some soils and soilless mixes hold water. Dry soil pockets surrounded by wet substrate impairs moisture and nutrient uptake. Roots suffer stress growth is slower. I use an inexpensive ($20) meter. More expensive meters send collected information to your digital device where it is compiled, analyzed and presented in a numeric or graphic format.
Irrigate cannabis in containers, regardless of size,
when half the water is used. To figure out when half the water is used, saturate the soil in the container until water flows from the drainage holes in the bottom. At this point the soil contains 100 percent water mixed with the growing medium. Weigh the container. Let´s say it weighs 10 kg. Wheen 50 percent of the water is used, the container weighs 5 kg. After weighing a few containers, you will soon develop the experience and skill
method works OK but does not account for container size and is less precise.
Allow at least 10 percent of the of the water to drain out the holes in the
bottom of the container. The runoff carries away excess fertilizer salts that have built up in the soil.
Organize containers in straight lines so that it
is easy to keep track of plants that need water and the ones that have been irrigated. It is very easy to miss a container when there are several hundred to water.
Lightly cultivate the soil surface in containers to allow the water to penetrate evenly and guard
Drip irrigation tubing is easy to move to individual pots so that they receive the exact amount of nutrient solution.
air circulation and ventilation are essential to promote a free flow of fluids, transpiration and rapid growth. The healthier a plant, the faster it grows and the more water it needs.
For example
, a small 4 × 4-foot (120 x 120 cm) garden containing 16 healthy plants in 3-gallon (11 L) pots needs 10 to 25 gallons (40-100 L) of water per week. A big 12-foot-tall (3.6 m) plant growing rapidly can use up to 10 gallons (38 L) of water on a hot sunny day.
Irrigation basics are explained below. You must
always keep these basics in mind as you develop your knowledge and skill as to when and how much to irrigate your garden. Stay close to your plants and you will understand their needs.
Moisture meters take the
guesswork out of water penetration in soil and soilless mixes. The probe is inserted into the soil that measures moisture content at the tip. A readout is displayed on an analog wet-todry scale at the top of the device. I´m always surprised how unevenly
An irrigation schedule
will keep you and your garden on track. Alter the irrigation schedule in relation to wind, heat and humidity. Plants use more water when temperatures climb and when it is windy. Plants use less water when temperatures cool and humidity increases. Always check the ground moisture manually before and after irrigating.
Irrigate early in the day
so that water that splashed on leaves has a chance to dry. Avoid wetting foliage and do not let water sit on leaves overnight to avoid diseases.
Small plants
with a small root system in small containers must be watered often. Water small containerized plants frequently, as soon as the soil surface dries out. As long as the drainage is good, it is difficult to overwater fast-growing cannabis. Four-week-old clones flowering in 2-3-gallon (7.5-11 L) containers require irrigation daily. If exposed to direct sunlight and wind, small containers dry out very quickly and may need watering twice daily.
Saturate the soil in a container and put it on the scal to record the weight.
to lift the container and make a very close educated guess as to when to irrigate. The next step will be to tip the container to figure out when to irrigate. Another method is to irrigate containerized plants when the soil is dry one-half inch below the surface. This
against dry pockets that do not get wet. It also keeps the water in containers from running down the crack between the inside of the pot and the soil and out the drain holes. Gently break up and cultivate the top 1-2 cm of the soil with your fingers or small garden fork. Be careful not to disturb the tiny surface roots.
31 Irrigate ground-grown cannabis when the soil is dry
about an inch below soil surface. Recently transplanted cannabis will need watering more often the first few weeks, especially during warm to hot weather. When planted in cool weather, roots get a chance to grow downward and outward before hot weather hits. These transplants grow much better and require less frequent irrigation than if planted after the weather warms. Seedlings started directly in the soil or started indoors and moved outdoors early have a chance to develop a long taproot. The taproot grows deeply into the soil. Seedlings planted early in the year tend to be more droughtresistant than clones that have a much shallower root system. Reduce temperature stress and lower water consumption by applying mulch and growing under shade cloth.
Apply mulch to protect soil
from rain and the blazing sun. Mulch also attracts and holds moisture in the soil. Conserve much water by applying a thick layer of my favorite mulch, straw. See chapter 12, Outdoors, for practical information about using mulch.
Install a semipermeable shade cloth wind block to decrease wind in
When the containerized plant weighs half as much, 50 percent of the water remains in the soil. It´s time to water.
turbulent areas. Shade cloth makes a great easy-to-construct wind block. Wind sucks moisture from cannabis plants quickly, depleting energy and increasing water needs and plant stress. Put shade cloth above outdoor gardens to keep them degrees
cooler which in turn lowers water requirements and plant stress.
Overwatering
is a common problem, especially when growing in heavy soil that drains poorly. Too much water drowns the roots by cutting off their supply of oxygen. Roots literally suffocate from lack of oxygen if allowed to sit in water for more than 20 minutes. Overzealous gardeners that love their gardens so much they give plants too much water are often the cause of overwatering. Plants use less water and are more prone to overwatering when air flow is limited, and humidity is high.
Signs of overwatering include leaves that curl down
at the edges and slow growth. Waterlogged, soggy soil promotes root rot and other water-borne diseases. Initial symptoms of overwatering are often subtle and inexperienced gardeners may not see any outright symptoms until damage has occurred.
Underwatering can cause
serious problems if unchecked. By the time a cannabis plant wilts, it has been water-starved for a day or longer and damage has started to occur. Plants start to shut down to conserve moisture and growth slows, even stops. If soil becomes bone dry, tender root hairs dry out and soon die. Dry soil, even in pockets, can cause root hairs dry up and die. It seems to take forever for the roots to grow new root hairs and resume rapid growth.
Water use increases
with rapid growth coupled with hot
Do not withhold water
at any stage of cannabis growth. Cannabis requires a lot of water. Withholding water causes stress and stunts all stages of growth. Rationing water during flowering causes smaller flowers to grow that produce less. Plants suffering water stress are much more prone to a menagerie of problems.
Water on a wet/dry schedule. Cannabis grows best
when roots search for water and nutrients. Waiting to irrigate until the soil is a little dry sends roots in search of water, causing them to grow and penetrate more soil.
Plants exposed to wind dry out much faster. Outdoor,
terrace and patio plants will use up to four times or more water on a hot windy day. Keeping up with the watering is difficult for gardeners who travel, and it is time-consuming. An automated irrigation system that uses a timer will help keep the irrigation schedule consistent.
A water wand with a shower-type head aerates water and disperses it evenly. You can reach more places with a wand and avoid broken foliage.
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Mulch gardens to keep soil cool and protect it from pounding rain.
weather, bright sunshine, sunbaked soil and wind. This water must be replaced quickly, or plants suffer water stress. Soil in small containers dry quickly. Fast-growing cannabis in small containers often requires daily watering. If a single container is forgotten, water-starved plant could become stunted and never resume rapid growth.
much water as the plant is expected to need and then wait 10 to 15 minutes for it to totally soak in. Apply more water until the soil is evenly moist. Submerge small containers in water to ensure soil is soaked. Fill a large container with water. Hold your hand over the soil and submerge the small pot until the growing medium is completely saturated.
Prevent underwatering
Submerge pots in water no more than 20 minutes or roots will literally
by checking moisture levels regularly especially when temperatures rise and when wind increases. Apply mulch to soil outdoors once soil warms, grow plants in small containers under shade cloth.
To ensure soil is completely wet add two
drops per liter or quart of water to a biodegradable, concentrated liquid soap like Castille®. The soap acts as a wetting agent by helping the water penetrate the soil more efficiently. This also guards against dry soil pockets. Most soluble fertilizers contain a wetting agent.
If soil is difficult to wet,
apply about one-quarter to one-half as
drown. Set container in bucket of water and wait for it to sink, then you know it is saturated because the soil and the water are the same weight. Set pots on saucers to keep drainage water contained.
An automattic watering system keeps irrigation more
consistent. A timer doses out water at a specific time before turning off. Water sensors can also turn the automated irrigation system on and off. Drip system emitters can be set to dole out specific volumes of water per hour. See “Irrigating and Fertigating” below for more information on automated irrigation.
A moisture meter is indispensible when checking soil moisture.
Jorge Cervantes is author of the Cannabis Encyclopedia (596 pages, 2.000+ color images, large A4 format) and Marijuana Horticulture (AKA the Bible). Both books are available at all amazon retailers worldwide. The Cannabis Encyclopedia has an excellent chapter on water. Contact Jorge at www.marijuanagrowing.com.
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+Speed
Seed banks TricomaTeam (tricomateam@gmail.com)
Quality in record time
An amazing short auto-flowering hybrid yielding large resinous buds with a savoury sweet and fruity smell. In addition to all this, it stands out above all for its incredible flowering speed, indeed one of the fastest on market. Sweet Seeds® has an extensive catalogue of strains – it is virtually impossible not to find a strain with a combination of qualities that fits you. There are high-yielders and also quality strains which, while ensuring very good harvests, stand out more for their smell. But there is more …strains more in demand for their speed. This is the case of +Speed Auto, a herb that is indeed synonymous with good quality, plentiful harvests and taste. However, its most striking characteristic is that it can be picked in only seven weeks from germination. Good grass in a very short time is the dream of the most impatient growers. This 3rd generation auto-flowering hybrid is the result of crossing two fantastic auto plants from the I+D+I department of Sweet Seeds®, i.e. an auto Critical Mass – selected for its speed and aroma – and a Speed Devil #2 Auto® with a very short flowering period as well. +Speed Auto specimens are small, 1 m tall at most, but their stalk and branches are thick and robust. Indoor yields are around 500g/m2, whereas outdoors growers can achieve 30 to 150 g per plant. Their speed allows you to get a few more harvests during the season than with other strains. It is certainly one of the fastest and highest yielding plants available. In only 7 weeks, you can obtain a good harvest of huge and dense buds. It has a quick and pleasant effect of relaxation and happiness at all levels – without nailing you to the sofa. Its taste is strong, sweet and fruity, with a touch of cheese.
Germination and growth
A beautiful bud of +Speed.
We germinated several +Speed Auto seeds between wet rags and, in just over 24 hours, they had all sprouted. Usually, we plant these strains directly in the pot where they will develop their full lifecycle to avoid the stress produced by a transplant. This time, we grew them in 11-litre pots, the right size for auto-flowering strains. Here, they
35
branches. Buds were huge, with long orange pistils, and released a pleasant, sweet aroma in the room at the slightest touch. In about 7 weeks, we cut all the +Speed Auto specimens.
Raccolto
Unbelievable! Many things were unthinkable years ago and now, although there is still leeway for further improvements, harvesting in such a short time is a dream come true for many growers. What is more, these quality plants produce yields that have nothing to envy from other strains. In 7 weeks from germination, our mature specimens were packed with huge, resin-laden buds. Trimming was quite quick and easy, as the leaf-to-bud ratio is quite low.
Tasting
After a short drying period, we finally tasted +Speed Auto, a herb with a strong, intense and sweet fruity taste at every puff with a slightly spicy touch. The effect, just like the plant, is fast, and relaxes you instantly.
Another spectacular specimen.
would spend their short 7-week period before harvest. We pre-watered the soil and placed them with their radicle facing downwards, at a very short depth, under 600W sodium lamps at 20 hours of light and 4 of darkness. In less than a day, the first leaves made their way across the soil surface towards the light. We only used a root booster in the irrigation water during the vegetative growth phase, until we saw
in the end, all the plants had grown to a remarkable size and shape. Plants of this type hardly require any care. In the short time they develop, it is more difficult for any pest and disease problems to arise. They have few leaves and are very large, which also facilitates their subsequent trimming. Pistils are continuously produced and buds grow bigger and bigger as the plant matures.
“Good grass in a very short time is the dream of the most impatient growers.” the plants starting to flower. No need to tell you how awesome their growth was in only a few days. Their structure is homogeneous and robust. internodal distance is very short, which facilitates the formation of huge buds. Around the third week, our plants started to show the first signs of flowering and the first pistils were visible.
Flowering
During this stage, we lit them at 20 hours of light and 4 of darkness. They did not stop their development until well into flowering and focused their energy on the production of buds. So,
The central bud stands out for its special size and density. +Speed Auto specimens are like small Critical+, but can be harvested in only 49 days. During this stage, we added a flowering stimulator to the irrigation water and, on a couple of occasions, we also fed them with some flowering fertiliser. Since plants are so fast there is no much time to do more. During the last days of flowering, we washed the roots well and waited for the specimens to finish maturing. All of them were around 70/80 cm in height and loaded with big buds on all
Huge secondary buds full of resin.
36
Seed banks H. Madera
The original Gelato and Sunset Sherbert strains are coming soon
This new project is a collaboration with Sherbinsky, the breeder of legendary hybrids We talked to Doctor OG from Dinafem and Diggs Terra from the Humboldt Seed Organization about their new project, the launch of a Gelato and Sunset Sherbert family – i.e. the only one that starts from the original strains as a result of their collaboration with the breeder of the original plants, Sherbinsky. They told us these strains are the first to be presented, but they are still working on them, because they are going to expand the catalogue with more versions of Gelato and Sunset Sherbert. Then a sequel of breeding initiatives will come where their team of professionals and the Dinafem laboratory will offer their assistance for new crossings and versions.
So far, Sherbinsky has specialised in the United States market but Dinafem is going to take the Sherbinsky brand to all of Europe, Latin America, Canada, part of Africa and part of Asia in order to make it
The idea is not to obtain new strains and making money out of them, but a longterm project whose ultimate objective will be to use this collection as the reference of this genetic base – always in association the breeder who created it and using the original crosses. This project has not come out of nowhere in four days, but took
The mothers: Gelato, Sunset Sherbert and Cookies
Lingerie
known throughout the world. As Dr OG explains: “We think it is fair for a breeder that to reap the fruits of his work, i.e. both earnings and recognition.”
L.A. Gelato several years to be developed. The launch was scheduled for 2019, when a cross between Girl Scout Cookies and Larry OG called ‘The New’ appeared, but they decided to wait another year and present it as they wanted. It has been a complex breeding project where they have focused on creating value. For example, Dinafem is preparing developments with CBD-rich, auto-flowering and fast versions.
we were talking about very normal topics and our families. From the beginning, it was a very one-to-one relationship. He has a public face but, when it comes to personal relations, he is a humble person. In the United States there is a 'polyhybrid' scene, with people mixing hybrids together, making a selection, giving them a name and telling you that they have a new strain. It is not common to find people who tell you the truth and are humble. Right from the start, he told us he respected very much our long-term breeding work, with selections lasting years. We felt comfortable with him.”
Collaboration of HSO and Dinafem with Sherbinsky
The collaboration with Sherbinsky started when Dinafem and HSO were working with other American breeder teams, but understanding each other was not an easy task. Mr Sherbinsky is also a celebrity. However, when they met him face to face, they saw he is a normal and reasonable person, without a big ego. This made cooperation much easier. Dr OG remembers: “When we met Mr Sherbinsky, he came with his wife and
Currently, many seed banks are offering Gelato or Sunset Sherbert seeds, but these seeds are often sourced from the buds of products kept at California dispensaries. There is no direct access to the original genetics.
The pollinator: Three Kings Blueberry Headband
To make a cross worthy of these mythical varieties, the Humboldt Seed Organization looked at the most select of their genetic pool. After several tests, they decided on a selection from a previous cross between Blueberry and Headband crossed again with Three Kings (hybrid of Headband and Sour Diesel, crossed with OG Kush). The selection was done with males and females. They paid a lot of attention to the structure of the males and the traits they passed down. They started by germinating 2000 plants, stressed
“We met Mr Sherbinsky a few years ago, he had this genetic collection and wanted to pass down his legacy and give people all over the world the opportunity to access his hybrids”, explains Diggs Terra. On the topic of genetics, he adds that Sherbinsky's work began with Pink Panties, an elite Florida OG Kush seedling pollinated with Burmese. The male was a landrace that came to the United States from Burma, with some phenotypes blooming after up to 14 weeks, but he chose a very special one that was faster. Then he made a selection where Pink Panties appeared, the progenitor of this family. On the other hand, Mr Sherbinsky had been working with the Cookies Family in the creation of the Cookies saga, originated from a cross between OG and Durban Poison. Then he hybridised Pink Panties with Cookies and produced Sunset Sherbert. Finally, he mixed Sunset Sherbert with an elite clone of Thin Mint Cookies and made several selections, from which he obtained the Gelato family, with phenotypes such as Bacio Gelato 41, Mochi Gelato 47 or Acai Berry Gelato 49.
Purple Matcha
them to check their resistance to pests and fungal infections, and discarded the weak ones. They stabilised the Humboldt strain for two generations, and then began to work with them in Spain, where they made a very special selection around 2014. The result is a strain they
37 have never marketed before - called Three Kings Blueberry Headband. It descends from a genetic base closely related to the OG family, from which Gelato and Sunset Sherbert also originate, which meant that the newly created hybrid had a similar structure and terpene profile as that of its ancestors. This made it easier to stabilise as a result of mutual reinforcement between the parent strains. All strains have a sharp, pungent and spicy taste, with notes of petroleum and gasoline. Their aftertaste, instead, is more complex - sweet and with a strong presence of tropical fruits and hints of mint. In addition, Three Kings Blueberry Headband contributes to shorten the flowering period in the final hybrids
many strains created by Sherbinsky, this one has purple tones that were passed down to this collection.
L.A. Gelato
This crossing comes out of Acai Berry Gelato 49. Sherbinsky wanted to pay tribute to Los Angeles for the warm reception he received in this city and because his fame began there. Acai Berry Gelato is very resistant to pests and diseases and L.A. Gelato has inherited this trait. It grows well in very dry climates and even better in humid ones, as it can withstand a little summer rain without problems. It is very easy to grow, as it requires little care.
San Bacio Gelato
Through a Gelato selection, Bacio Gelato was obtained. In the USA, there is long tradition of name changes to breathe new air into the existing products. Sherbinsky added ‘San’ as a tribute to the San Sebastián village.
– in particular, Sunset Sherbert takes 70 days to flower, while Three Kings Blueberry Headband takes 63 days, bringing the flowering of the final hybrids to about 65 days. Similarly, to
Bacio Gelato is the most desirable strain of the family, which is why it is also the most forged. The seeds that appear in buds of this variety have been widely used by different breeders, because, although pollinations occur randomly and their real origin is unknown, the mother is dominant and the large quantity of cannabinoids and terpenes
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It withstands very different climates. It is solid and balanced in structure, similar to L.A. Gelato, but with a slightly higher yield. The final product has a great
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climates. It has a more indica habit and develops into a very compact shape. Its leaves are large and abundant, so defoliation is desirable to allow the light to filter through. When grown outdoors, it develops into a round, well-balanced and highly branched shape. This strain has the most intense purple tones among all others, with very beautiful final flowers. In this case, petrol remains in the background and fruit and sweet notes prevail, with a mixture of different flavours, i.e. mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and even more acid and citric tones.
Lingerie
A cross created from Pink Panties. It has a mainly sativa background standing out from the rest of the saga. It also has an aggressive growth, with long internodal distance, so apical pruning is recommended. Indoors, results are amazing but it is outdoors where it reaches its full potential and grows like a beast. Growers in California have even obtained specimens measuring five metres in height by five metres in width.
It offers a good balance between indica and sativa, with strong branches and no much internodal distance. But it is not too big either. Outdoors, when plants of this type are germinated earlier, they grow huge, with a yield of several kilograms, in which case they need a sturdy support to hold their heavy flowers. The buds are very compact, with a beautiful final appearance. Most phenotypes of this plant have purple colours. Their calyxes are large and round. Its taste is phenomenal due to the high terpene content. To the palate, its petrol base evolves towards more fruity and sweet tones, with hints of noble woods and cinnamon.
San Bacio Gelato
remains unchanged, thus obtaining very intense bouquet of tastes.
Sunrise Sherbert appearance, with purple colours and an excellent calyx-leaf ratio. Buds are compact and its stands out from all other strains in the project for its intense terpene profile. It is indeed striking on the palate, with intense petrol and earthy notes, acid fruits and pepper. It also has the highest cannabinoid content, which combines well with a large quantity of terpenes to produce a strong and forceful effect that relaxes both body and mind.
Sunrise Sherbert
This name calls to mind its taste, with multiple influences and a pleasant effect. It is a Tutti Frutti ice cream that you eat at sunset. Its resistance to mildew means that it can be grown in many types of
As it moves into the flowering period, the plant can double or even triple its size. In any case, flowering time remains at around 65 days, Unbelievably, it can grow a lot in such a short time. Although it is still an OG, i.e. a family that does not require much food, it needs more fertilisation than its sisters. Even if it grows to a large size, it does not need excessive nitrogen nutrients. Slight defoliation is advisable to increase the penetration of light and trimming is very easy at harvest. Buds are as big as golf balls, but with enough space between the calyxes. When you smell them, you can feel your whole olfactory system being activated. Its taste has clear gasoline notes, with fruity, floral and minty hints. Despite its predominantly sativa appearance, the effect remains indica, with high potency.
Purple Matcha
Among the several selections obtained
38 Index of ads
Name Page from the first generation of Cookies, which have never been circulated, one with high yields and a very strong terpene profile was chosen as the mother. It can be grown in most regions and gives very good results indoors. It does not need apical pruning, as it has a round growth habit. Its appearance is more indica, so defoliation during the flowering period is recommended. It grows a little slower than its sisters and is very resistant to pests and mildew. Buds are very compact and make the end product look very appealing. The offspring have inherited the purple hues of their Cookies mother. Their taste is less floral and wet earth Kush predominates, with touches of hash and mint in the aftertaste and additional gasoline, citrus and floral tones. Its effect is potent and leaves you stuck to the sofa. It is not to be smoked on a day when you need to be active.
Prices
At the base of the seed bank pyramid there are players with short-term strategies, selling at low prices to try to achieve volumes. Sherbinsky's mentality is quite the opposite, he wants to sell luxury products. In the United States, there is a market segment willing to pay high prices for top quality cannabis. For producers in this market, buying these seeds to make their selections is an investment that is not even noticed at the end of the year in their costs, but is reflected in the higher price of the quantities they sell. They look for the best variety to grow with the best quality soil and a special compost, cure them and obtain a sumptuous final product. Customers who look for a cheap Gelato, will buy imitations elsewhere. But anyone who wants to buy the original plant and its authorised versions will opt for this collection. This proposal is not targeted at the grower who is just starting
out, but at the expert who wants a top American phenotype, buys two packs, makes his selection and grows a mother for years. It is also meant for associations that are looking for something special.
Conclusions
These are very special genetic bases, from the original breeder who has so far remained outside the seed market. Indeed, other banks use bag seeds and non-original clones to launch novelties with these names. But this is the first opportunity for the public to have access to the original plants, which have never been circulated and have been kept unchanged to date. This is meant to be the start of a family with completely new and unusual flavours, a proposal for connoisseurs to have their own collection. In addition to adding new varieties, the range is being worked on to achieve greater stabilisation. So, if you want to make your own selection, there is no better time than now to do so and you can rest assured that your range of strains will be even larger. These plants have a greater appetite for fertilisers than other American strains, although not so great as the European ones. Excesses in feeding are therefore not advisable. They do not need much nitrogen either, as they stay green easily. They perform well with all kinds of nutrients, even when grown in hydroponics; but to maximise their taste, what they need is organic cultivation. For every grower, it is a matter of choice. As Diggs Terra explains, “I prefer a less conspicuous but incredibly fragrant bud to one that looks perfect but has less smell.”
Advanced Hydroponics of Holland
19
Jorge Cervantes
33
Advanced Seeds
13
Kosmic Kitchen
27
Atami
27
Mycologics
37
Barney's Farm
2
Paradise Seeds
1
Cyco
39
Paradise Seeds
27
Emerald Harvest
7
Procare
37
GE current
8
Sweet Seeds
40
Green Passion
1
Urban Gardening
29
Colofon Soft Secrets is published by Discover Publisher BV P.O.Box 362, 5460 AJ, Veghel, Netherlands Telephone: +31-(0)73-5498112 E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl Web: www.softsecrets.com Editor: Cliff Cremer
The main reason why the Humboldt Seed Organization wanted to start working with these strains is precisely their very dominant flavours, which belong to the OG Kush family, but have a unique personality. They are a step beyond and a new phase in the intensity of tastes.
ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ: PAGE 6:
1. C 2. A 3. D 4. B 5. D 6. A 7. D 8. C 9. A 10. B
11. A 12. A 13. D 14. B 15. A 16. C 17. A 18. D 19. D 20. B
Contributors: Jorge Cervantes, Stoney Tark, Rich Hamilton, Mr. Jose, Green Born Identity (G.B.I.), and others. Photography: iStock Editorial adress: readers@softsecrets.nl Advertisements: E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl A word from the publisher: Soft Secrets is a bi-monthly free magazine which is published in The Netherlands (called Highlife), Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Poland, Czech Republic and Chile. World wide there is a process going on of relative liberalisation towards the use of cannabis, be it for medicinal or recreational purposes. Several countries legalised cannabis as a way of separating soft and hard drugs, as it has proven to do in Holland. Other countries legalised
the use of medicinal cannabis, including the right to grow cannabis plants for one’s own use. The publisher wants to highlight the process of normalisation of cannabis use. This assumes that the publisher does not necessarily agree with everything that appears in articles and advertisements. The publisher therefore distances himself explicitly from published statements or images that might give the impression that an endorsement is being made for the use and/or production of cannabis. Nothing from this publication may be copied or reproduced in any format without prior permission from the publisher and other copyright holders. The publisher is not responsible for the content and/or point of view of advertisements. The editor takes no responsibility for unsollicited submissions. The publisher has endeavored to reach all copyright holders of photos and/or images. Those who still believe they are entitled to these rights may contact the publisher.
Next issue out:
February 19, 2021
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