THE CANNABIS NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
www.softsecrets.com | Issue 4 - 2021 18+ For adults only. Soft Secrets is published six times a year by Discover Publisher BV Netherlands
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CBD market 'not yet compliant' with the law - and tough new rules will soon come into force Nearly eight million Britons bought CBD last year, but 55% struggle to access reliable information about what they're buying. Tough new rules aimed at regulating the CBD food supplement market in the UK came into force nationwide last march. Applications for "novel food" status must be submitted to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in a bid to crack down on mislabelling and deal with concerns about the contents of some CBD products. Nearly eight million people bought CBD in the UK last year and the market has rocketed by 50% in 12 months. It is now worth around £450m, but 55% of users struggle to access reliable information about what they're buying. FSA chief executive Emily Miles said: "The industry is not yet compliant with the law. "The products all need to go through a food safety assessment and we want to bring the industry into compliance. We've had over 200 applications so we think the market is working to bring their products into compliance.
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"What we've said to businesses is they need to be compliant by end of March. After that they will go through an assessment process. But any business that doesn't have that application in needs to withdraw their products from sale by 31 March. It's important to the consumer that these products are safe and that they are what they say they are." Emma Harrison, from Hertfordshire, contracted dengue fever in Myanmar six years ago and ended up with a spinal cord injury as a result. She has been regularly using a CBD oil product and says it has been a game changer.
She added: "I had been on all these medications for so long, almost a year, and nothing had touched the pain. "Suddenly I took quite a small dose of CBD and the pain disappeared. I couldn't believe it. I kept taking it and kept taking it and noticed all these other improvements, more daily clarity and better recovery from my rehab sessions. "I think the new regulations are really important. For one, it's an expensive product and when you are buying something that expensive it should be a product you can trust. Secondly, all medications that we take go through so much testing, there's no reason CBD shouldn't be going through those same tests and be held to a high standard." Professional rugby player Grayson Hart runs Pure Sport CBD and says he welcomes
the move by the FSA. He began using CBD oil as a natural way of dealing with a painful knee injury after wanting to move away from painkillers. The former Scotland scrum-half told Sky News: "We're really excited by the FSA regulations coming into play. It's going to hold companies fully accountable to what they're putting out there. Right now there's just not enough accountability. Our vision is if there isn't an official regulatory criteria we want to ensure we provide that level of clarity. So we're excited by this and welcome these regulations. "Any brand that has their application approved will have that stamp of approval. And that's so amazing for such a fastgrowing industry." Source: News.Sky.co.uk
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AYAHUASCA PURPLE
THE DOC ENCOUNTERS UTMOST INDICA EXTRAVAGANZA
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OUTDOOR GARDEN MAINTENANCE
WITH JORGE CERVANTES
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AUTOFLOWERING OR CLASSIC?
MR. JOSE ADVISES
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GROWING THE NOVEL RUNTZ XL AUTO® FROM SWEET SEEDS® DELICICIOUS FRUITS!
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MUTATION, THE PERPETUAL EVOLUTION OF CANNABIS
5
NEWS By Rich Hamilton
ICONIC BRAND "COOKIES" LANDS IN AMSTERDAM On Friday, June 11th 2021, Global cannabis brand "Cookies" opened a new smoking lounge in Amsterdam, situated within "Green House United", one of the Green House Coffeeshop locations. "Cookies" is an exciting addition to the Amsterdam scene. It brings the famous American brand to European shores allowing cannabis connoisseurs the opportunity to sample their hyped range of strains. If you have been living under a rock and do not know who Cookies are, let me fill you in.
It is doubtful that there is a dispensary anywhere that does not carry some form of GSC (Girl Scout Cookies) genetics in its portfolio of strains. GSC and the Cookies brand have had more influence on modern weed culture than possibly anything else. The original strain of Girl Scout Cookies" was first bred around 2012 by San Francisco Bay Area's "Cookie Fam genetics". This collective includes some well-known breeders, including Rapper
Berner and Mario Guzman, the man behind the "Sherbinskis" cannabis brand and one of the originators behind the current favourite strain "Gelato". The popularity of the GSC strain has allowed its breeders to create iconic brands that are unrivalled within the cannabis industry. None more so than "Cookies". The brand now has a huge following and has grown to be the no.1 "cannabis lifestyle" brand globally, creating a half a billion-dollar empire.
Cookies not only have a portfolio of dispensaries across the USA, but they also have merchandise stores selling a full range of smoking accessories, lifestyle goods and clothing. The flagship "Cookies" Stores are estimated to bring in between $100,000 and $200,000 a day, whilst the Melrose California store can often hit $450,00 in just a single-day trade. From streetwear to seeds and cannabis Flower, Cookies have it covered and have even branched out into other subbrands like Lemonade, Grandiflora and Mintz, and collaborations with "God Tier" cannabis pop culture ambassadors such as Snoop Dogg. Berner, real name Gilbert Anthony Milam Jr, is a true mogul of the cannabis industry and gets much credit for making the brand so recognisable. As a rapper, Berner is signed to Wiz Khalifa's "Taylor gang Entertainment". He has released more than 15 albums, some of which have featured on Billboards Top R&B/ HIP
HOP Albums chart. Berner is probably better known now, however, for his entrepreneurial success in making Cookies what it is today. Part of the success story being down to the genius way that he got around the ban on trademarking a strain of cannabis. You may not be able to trademark a plant, but you can trademark a cannabis clothing brand. Once you have your trademark, you can hang a trademarked sign out front of your cannabis
dispensary! The rest, as they say, is history! It's not all style over substance, though; Cookies are passionate about weed and strive to bring authenticity and innovative genetics to the masses. This is something that you would expect from the guys who brought us GSC. Berner and co-founder and grow expert 'Jai' pride themselves on having complete control of the entire cannabis experience, from "seed to sale". Cookies take pride in their in-house cultivation, global varieties and strainspecific products. Their new Amsterdam venture is a step forward in their mission to take the brand "global". Customers at the Cookies lounge can expect to choose from a selection of featured Cookies strains such as Honey Bun, Gelatti and Berry Pie.
You can find the Cookies lounge at "Greenhouse United" Haarlemmerstraat 64, 1013 ET Amsterdam.
6
CANNABIS VIPS By Rich Hamilton
JAY-Z LAUNCHES
$10 MILLION FUND TO HELP MINORITY-RUN CANNABIS START-UPS When Jay-Z launched his cannabis brand "Monogram" last December, it was the latest in the celebrity line of cannabis brands. Sleek and stylised, the design and marketing aesthetic was second to none as you would expect, as were the claims about quality. "With its careful strain selection, meticulous cultivation practices and uncompromising quality, Monogram seeks to redefine what cannabis means to consumers today"- Monogram Press release. Monograms first 4 craft strains were named simply as No.88, No.96 No.70 and No.1, available in 3 strengths "light," "medium", and "heavy". They were developed by veteran cultivator DeAndre "De" Watson. The flagship "Monogram" product was the "OG Handroll". This is a 1.5-gram joint that has been rolled by experts using a technique developed over 12 months. The joint contains small-batch Flower, with its unique Selling point being that it burns like a cigar. It doesn't come cheap, though, at $50 apiece. Since its launch, the "Monogram" range has expanded to include more strains. It is available to buy or deliver throughout California. Unlike many other celebrities trying to cash in on the legal cannabis market, however, Jay-Z had plans to focus on Social Justice issues surrounding legalisation. Jay-Z joined Monograms parent company "Caliva" as Chief Brand Strategist in July 2020. This role was to assist with creative decisions, strategy and launch his own cannabis line. Additionally, Jay-Z wanted to address the cannabis industry's inherent racism by establishing the "Social Equity Ventures Fund". The fund started with $10 million in seed money, received as part of a business merger and aims to encourage and
promote the participation of the black community within the legal cannabis market. Serving as a stepping stone for those most disparaged by America's "War on Drugs". The fund will help minority-run cannabis start-ups whilst improving the representation and participation of previously incarcerated people who are being kept out of the legal market.
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, has long been an outspoken critic of "the war on drugs", which has devastated minority communities since it was devised under President Nixon in 1971. He has also spoken publicly about how legalisation benefits predominantly white States and companies whilst, in contrast, people of colour are continuing to face prison sentences for minor drug violations.
660,000 arrests, 90% of which were for possession. What makes the figures worse is that these arrests continue to disproportionately impact Black and Latino people, who are no more likely to sell or use cannabis than white people!
People of colour have been disproportionately stigmatised and punished for involvement in the illegal Cannabis industry throughout history. As legalisation has swept across the USA, there has been a massive influx of companies to fill the demand. This only gave rise to the question of why white men were getting rich by doing the same thing that African-Americans had been going to prison for?
The social equities venture hopes to correct things by increasing the participation of citizens returning from incarceration via advocacy, job training, and overall employee and workforce development. There is no doubt that the conversation surrounding equality in the cannabis industry needs addressing. There has to be more awareness and understanding to allow a culture of fairness to emerge.
Can meaningful change really come about via billionaire entrepreneurs and their social justice funding projects? Some would say no, as how can a profit-driven industry ever truly deliver economic and racial justice??
"We were the ones most negatively affected by the war on drugs, and America has turned around and created a business from it that's worth billions," Jay-Z.
The sad fact is that even with the continued state by state legalisation, cannabis-related arrests in the US continue to increase on a nationwide scale. In 2018 there were more than
These kinds of statistics show that there are racial inequalities deeply ingrained within the US legal system.
However, what can be agreed on is that the projects are raising awareness, allowing cannabis consumers to make informed decisions and choices about where and who they buy their weed off? If enough people vote with their feet, maybe the wider industry will listen and adapt. Either way, good on Jay-Z for trying to initiate a change for the better and for not just looking to cash in!
Advanced Hydroponics of Holland since 1993
Come grow with us
www.advancedhydro.com | info@advancedhydro.com | +31 297 363 404 /advanced_hydro | /advancedhydroponicsofhollandofficial
8
BARNEY’S FARM STRAIN STORY Words & Pics: Green Born Identity – G.B.I.
Ayahuasca Purple: The Doc
encounters utmost indica extravaganza „I’ve definitely got to get this one!“ – having grown countless strains over all those decades, it’s not too often that master grower The Doc gets assailed by such an ultimate craving for possession when spotting a new cannabis variety. He was instantly taken with the strong exotic touch expressed through both the name and pedigree of the Barney’s Farm plant “Ayahuasca Purple”. His assumption that “Ayahuasca” (a psychedelic herbal brew from South America) would point towards South American genes proved to be wrong though – surprisingly, it’s a plant from North Vietnamese Red River Delta lending Ayahuasca Purple its exoticism. Years ago, Barney’s Farm received it as a gift, and when test growing it found out it was a most attractive eye-catcher, with a violet and ruby red play of colours. Crossing it with a classic Master Kush gave birth to a perfect nearly 100% indica hybrid with a THC level of more than 20% that has inherited Red River Delta’s lovely colours and thanks to its multitude of big dense buds is capable of producing exceptional yields of up to 650 g/m2 within 55-65 days of flowering. Ripening in the third to fourth week of September under natural light, this strain is a very good outdoor performer, too. As befits an excellent indica, Ayahuasca Purple is endowed with a pretty strong sedative effect which is not from the “checkmate” department though, making users feel lightsome if not euphoric, thus potentially acting as an aid to ease socialising with other people. This strain serves a varied palette of different flavours, taste-wise Barney’s mentions lavender, mango and hazelnut whereas a delectable papaya scent sticks out from the olfactoric menu that also features earthy and pungent notes.
A surprisingly open growth pattern So once he had received his Ayahuasca Purple beans, The Doc happily got to work. First he paid a compliment to Barney’s way of seed packaging: “These blisters are awesome, super tight and see-through – just the way it should be!” Within less than three days, the two seeds sown had popped and started to grow at fast pace. Two weeks into vegetative growth, The Doc noted “for a 100% indica, these two plants are exhibiting remarkably vigorous growth, early branching out, with an open structure due to fairly wide
internodal spacing - which makes me happy! As this sort of growth pattern allows for more light to reach the side tops and branch axils, encouraging growth of big buds. Also surprising, shade leaves are thinner than I had expected with an indica.” When three veg weeks were over, he flipped the lights from 18/6 to 12/12 to put the plants into flower, standing 37 and 41 cm tall.
The flowering stage: Plants like fallen into a paint pot, with an immense dusting of crystals
Flowering lasted three weeks when The Doc reported: “I’m absolutely delighted about how great these two plants are performing. Their strong instinct to stretch has continued through early flowering, and one of them is already turning purple – yippee! Along those many long branches, plenty of little dense flower clusters have appeared that are increasing in size day by day.” Three weeks later, he continued “the plants have kept on stretching 4.5 weeks as if there were no tomorrow, almost tripling their height, very unusual for a 100% indica. Both have fallen into a paint-pot, displaying leaves and buds the colour spectrum of which is ranging from red to violet – there it is again, my beloved purple eye candy! Already by now, Ayahuasca Purple has lived up to the colour promise of its name. The non-typical indica nature of these plants also manifests itself in their buds that, other than most of 100% indicas, have a high calyx to leaf ratio. Overall perfection is completed by the fact that as early as now, flowers and sugar leaves are covered in a star studded blanket full
of resin glands. And with maturity not yet in sight, resin production is certainly going to escalate… However, this strain not only has a lot to offer to my eyes, but also to my nose – the buds are exuding an unusual, primarily fruity-tropical scent, underpinned by a spicy earthy note that also has a bit of gasoline to it.”
A very timely finish, buds resinous as hell and wonderfully colourcontrasting In the remaining weeks, just as expected tons of icy looking crystals were snowing down on the buds until after 60 days of flowering, The Doc deemed them ripe: “Indeed, their thick hard buds have become resinous as hell! This insane resin richness is a sheer pleasure to the eyes, particularly in its gorgeous contrast to those dark red and dark violet hues that have even gained in intensity during the finish. Only some of the small sugar leaves have remained green. Their vivid stretching temper has made the plants ascend to
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final heights of 90 and 115 cm, much taller than I had expected in view of their indica heritage.”
After drying: AP joins the 100 grams club, now revealing its nutty nature With both plants yielding a dry total of 203 grams, Ayahuasca Purple booked its admission ticket to the 100 grams club of strains. The Doc was astounded by the fact that after the drying process, there really was something hazelnut to the buds now – a kind of aroma he hadn’t experienced yet
with a cannabis plant. That hazelnut note had obviously emerged through aromatic transformation from the buds’ previously earthy odour component, while they had retained their tropically sweet fruit element. “Frankly, I don’t know how papaya smells, would have to buy one first…. But I can well imagine
that one may put that exotic fruit label on these fragrant buds”, speculated The Doc. When trimming the buds, he had left a few medium big flower leaves which were now wrapped around the spectacularly crystal-heavy frosty flower clusters like some violet claws – these nuggs definitely had that extra something!
Smoking it: Ayahuasca Purple lulls The Doc into happy sedation and acts as a massage roller The voluminous billow of smoke The Doc inhaled when test-smoking the weed caused a highly intense two-phase taste sensation, fruity sweet on the inhale, spicy-nutty on the exhale and in the prolonged after taste. “Very special! And also, especially tasty!”, praised The Doc Ayahuasca Purple’s flavour. After three tokes, the effect started to build in the back of his mind, on the onset like a small bubble filled with blitheness that bursted after another deep hit, releasing a full wave of euphoria that flooded his whole brain. It wasn’t a sort of activating euphoria, but that blissfully lulling indica feeling warming one’s soul. The second wave of effect was also physical then, with the Ayahuasca Purple indica stone heaving over The Doc’s limbs and muscles like a massage roller, bringing deep relaxation that pleasantly made him slacken off. He didn’t feel totally blissed out though, but merely super relaxed and pretty comfortable.
As sociable as he was in that state of mind, The Doc spontaneously joined a neighbour’s party which led to a very funny evening. „This probably is the most extravagant indica I’ve ever grown”, he concluded. “Due to her unusual stretching temper
combined with a high calyx-to-leaf ratio, fantastic vibrant colours and an extraordinary fruity-nutty flavour. Plus high yields and a marvellous effect – what more could an indica heart desire?” Green Born Identity – G.B.I.
Cultivation data: Genetics
Ayahuasca Purple (Red River Delta x Master Kush)
Vegetative stage
three weeks (after germination)
Flowering stage
60 days / 55-65 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 8 x SANlight Q6W = 1720 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
90 + 115 cm
Yield
together, 203 grams
10
GROW WITH JORGE CERVANTES Jorge Cervantes jorge@marijuanagrowing.com
OUTDOOR GARDEN MAINTENANCE
Irrigate daily in hot weather if necessary. Plants use much more water during hot weather, especially if they receive full sun all day long. Containereized plants also use more water during hot weather. Use a moisture meter to check substrates to make sure plants are properly irrigated. Automattic watering systems supply water regularly so plants do not dry out. A leaf blower work wonders to knock off all the big drops of rainwater. Shake flowers that take on a lot of water to disperse. Always start at the top of the plant and expect to get wet. This is a good method if knocking off rainwater from a few plants. A leaf blower is a simiple solution for many plants. Wind is rarely a problem when plants are trellised properly. I prefer to start with a horizontal net trellis. This type of trellis supports branches and gives them the freedom to move and grow too. Unstaked plants will suffer the wrath of the wind. If flowers are wet and heavy, wind can break branches.
Cannabis gardeners who planned and executed their plans beforehand have less garden maintenance.– Unprepared gardeners who did not plan, will spend much time solving problems that could have avoided. Funny thing, it takes about the same amount of time to grow a substandard garden as it does to cultivate an outstanding cannabis garden.
Put the garden on a regular maintenance plan and watch each plant carefully to see how every action you take effects plant growth and health. Make a log to record daily weather temperature, humidity and daylength. Record irrigation times and volume of water. Record every time you fertilize. Keep your records for the following year and add to them. You will be surprised how much this information will help you anticiapte problems and grow biigger and better plants. Apply mulch when soil temperatures rise above 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) in the spring. Once soil temperatures increase, roots suffer. A layer of mulch will cool the soil and protect young tender surfase roots. Mulch also conserves moisture. Inspect plants for diseases, pests, cultural problems. Pest and disease attacks typically start durring vegatative growth. Keep a vigilent eye out for any deviations in growth, spots on leaves or little dots under leaves.
Straw is my favorite garden mulch. It holds moisture in the soil longer and outlasts alfalfa hay.Mulch cools the soil and protects the surface from pounding rain and intense sunlight that heats and dries soil. A surface layer teaming with life will grow just below the mulch. Wait until soil has warmed to apply mulch.
11 spring to mulch my garden and it lasts all year. Once the surface of the soil has warmed to about 80 degrees F (27 degrees C) I apply mulch. During the summer, I add my second favorite mulch, grass clippings, as they become available. Pile mulch higher and deeper, I call it the PHD method. But you don´t need be Ph D for it to work wonders. Pile straw mulch up to 12 inches (1530 cm) high. It cooks down over time transforming into rich compost. Alfalfa hay mulch adds nitrogen and other nutrients. Alfalfa hay costs more than straw and cooks down faster.
Soil temperature climbs quickly in direct sunlight. The temperature of the unmulched soil is 41 degrees C (106 degrees F) after a few minutes of direct sunlight. High substrate temperatures slow growth and increase maintenance.
Cover garden beds with a heavy layer of mulch to overwinter. A 12-inch-plus (30 cm+) layer of mulch will keep soil elements intact and attract moisture. Bare soil loses many of the beneficial organisms and the valuable topsoil fertility to erosion during winter months. After mulching, cover the garden with a heavy tarp or landscape fabric to keep it weed free until you are ready to transplant. When the soil has warmed apply a layer of mulch. I like to use a laser thermometer to measure the surface of the soil. When the temperature hovers around 80-90 degrees F (26-32 degrees C) I apply a thick layer of straw mulch. The mulch attracts moisture, keeps the soil cool and prevents evaporation. A rich layer of soil life will develop in the top layer of the soil under the mulch too.
A layer of mulch, in this case expanded clay pellets, the surface temperature drops quickly. The temperature below the mulch stays cool, providing the perfect environment for roots and rapid growth.
MULCH
Mulch is a layer of straw, grass clippings, paper, rocks, etc. placed around the base of plants. Mulch protects the soil surface, attracts and retains soil moisture and smothers weeds. Straw is my favorite much for my outdoor cannabis garden. I buy a bale or two of straw in the
Rocks and rock dust make excellent mulch. Use rock mulches where they are readily available. Even on sunny days in blistering hot weather when rock mulches are hot to touch, they still shade soil and protect it from evaporative moisture loss.
Black plastic mulch is popular among CBD-rich farmers. They cover garden beds with black plastic and cut holes it to plant seedlings and clones. A soaker hose can be laid underneath the plastic to irrigate. Holes must be big enough so that plant stems do not touch the plastic. Black plastic gets very hot during the day but actually warms the soil very little. Cut the planting holes big enough so tender plant stems do not touch it. The hot black plastic will literally cook the stem at the soil line. A dark-colored plastic mulch shades weeds, prevents moisture loss and raise the temperature of the soil surface on a sunny day.
Dark rocks can moderate temperature in a very small area by soaking up the heat of the day then releasing it slowly as the evening temperature cools. Rocks must get plenty of sunlight to warm up. Newspaper makes a good mulch. Wet paper once in place and cover with organic mulch to form an extra layer of protection. Virtually free and readily available, newspaper layers should be at least six pages thick, preferably a dozen or more, before adding a soil or mulch covering to anchor it in place.
Woven weed barriers let water drain but will not let the weeds grow through. Cover these barriers with rock or bark chips. Avoid using strips of scrap carpet because weeds will grow through them and make removal difficult.
This an excerpt from the Outdoors chapter in the new, unpublished 6th Edition of Marijuana Horticulture (AKA the Bible) by Jorge Cervantes. The 6th Edition of Marijuana Horticulture will be available Spring 2022. Find all of Jorge´s books at all amazon retailers worldwide.
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STRAIN REPORT By TricomaTeam (tricomateam@gmail.com)
AUTO SOMANGO A VERY SWEET WEED IN RECORD TIME A superb mediumsized autoflowering hybrid that yields spectacular, resinous buds giving off a sweet tropical-fruit smell. It flowers in a very short time, with plentiful harvests due to its abundant branching and has a very energetic and euphoric effect. Auto Somango of Advanced Seeds is a feminized automatic, fast, high-yielding plant with a delicious taste. This strain will be ready indoors in just over nine weeks, with plants overflowing with buds. Outdoors, it can be grown all season long, with specimens that will grow to around one and a half metres in height. Indoors, the plants will barely reach a metre, with yields of up to 450g/m². Between 9 and 12 plants would be the ideal amount to grow in a one-square-metre grow tent. It is a homogeneous, robust plant, with abundant branching and short internodal distance, which favours the growth of several buds of good size. With a 15% THC content, it generates a fast, lively, euphoric and very energetic yet not too strong effect. Its taste is sensational and is particularly appreciated by Somango lovers - sweet tropical fruits with somewhat citric notes lingering on the palate - and can be enjoyed all day long without feeling heavy. Auto Somango is an easy-to-grow plant that only needs good soil and a little fertiliser to produce a spectacular harvest of resinous buds with an exquisite smell and taste.
A resinous central bud.
Growth We germinated several seeds of auto Somango between wet rags and, in little more than 24 hours, they had all opened. We prefer to put these plants directly into the pot , where they will develop their whole lifecycle to avoid any kind of stress caused by transplanting, which could hinder or delay their development. Our specimens were grown in 17-litre pots. Here they spent the approximately 10 weeks they normally take to mature. We
put them in previously watered soil, with their radicle facing downwards and at a very shallow depth, and kept them in a grow tent with LEC lamps. Their photoperiod was set at 20 hours of light and 4 of darkness. In less than a day, the first leaves broke through the soil surface into the light. The soil we used was fairly well fertilised, so we hardly added any nutrients to the irrigation water. During the first few days, we added a root stimulator to the
irrigation water and watered a couple of times with Bactomatik to further promote the development of the plants. All the specimens maintained an intense green colour, so we only added the growth stimulator on a couple of occasions before the plants started to flower. The development of this strain is spectacular. It has a very strong and robust structure, with numerous branches and side shoots. Its internodal distance is quite short, which facilitates the formation of huge buds. Between the third and fourth week,
A PLANT THAT ONLY NEEDS GOOD SOIL AND A LITTLE FERTILISER TO PRODUCE A SPECTACULAR HARVEST OF RESINOUS BUDS
13 the plants began to show the first signs of flowering and the first pistils could be seen.
Flowering During this stage, we kept the lighting at 20 hours and 4 of darkness. The plants did not stop their development until well into flowering, to focus solely on the production of buds. By the time they stopped growing, they were all around one metre tall, with abundant and robust branching. Auto Somango plants hardly require any care and are quite resistant so, in the short time in which they develop, it is dif-
grown were healthy and green, and did not seem to need more food. The last few days of flowering we washed the roots abundantly and waited for the plants to finish maturing. The buds were huge, with long orange pistils and overflowing with resin. In only 65 days, we had all auto Somango plants ready to be harvested.
Harvest and tasting It is a mouth-watering experience to cut the plants and think about leaving them to dry for at least two more weeks before you can taste them. The smell of the buds
THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER... A beautiful bud at the height of its development.
ficult for any pest or disease to interfere with their development. The formation of pistils is continuous and the buds get bigger and bigger. The central bud stands out for its special size and density. The smell it gives off when the tent is opened is delicious. During this phase, we added a specific flowering stimulator to irrigation water and, in a couple of watering cycles, we also fed them with some flowering fertiliser. The specimens
when you bring them to your nose is mild, very pleasant and sweet. All buds, especially the central one, are hard and very dense and covered with a shiny layer of resin. Pruning is quite quick and easy as the leaf-to-bud ratio is quite low. After a short drying period we finally tasted the Somango automatics. Truly, this weed has a rich taste with a sweet fruity touch of mango that everyone will like. The effect is very happy and relaxing but also stimulating.
General view of a Somango auto.
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15
STRAIN REVIEW By Stoney Tark
H.S.O CHEM BOMB AUTO
She has a wide open structure and stays short in height.
Strain: Chem Bomb Auto Lineage: Chem 91 x Bubba Kush Auto Environment: Outside in South Spain Growing Time: 69 days Flushing Period: 14 days Grow Medium: Coco + Compost + Guanokalong complete mix powder (2-5-3) Pot Size: 12 litre fabric pot (Root Pouch) Nutrients: Water, Humic acid (House and Garden) and Cannazyme Final Height: 52cm
I decided to grow an auto flowering version of Chem Bomb Auto by H.S.O as I am a huge fan of both parents. Living in South Spain it is possible to grow some top-quality auto flowering plants. She will be planted into a 12-litre fabric pot that is made up of an organic medium of coco, compost and a complete mix powder nutrient from Guanokalong (2-5-3). As far as liquid nutrients, I will only use a humic acid and enzyme blend with water and feed the same amount
from start until the final 2 weeks prior to harvest. By day 15, the seedling is well established due to the heavy mountainous winds, and so far, have avoided any insect damage which is always a bonus in Spain. The seedling now is measuring at just short of 11cm and is on the second leaf set. She loves the nutrients and has a metallic glow with thick leaves. After the 22nd day, the internodal spacing can be measured at every 5cm and now she is a total height of 22 cm. The hot temperatures are causing her to grow very quickly also and the more she drinks, the bigger she gets. The first lot of side branches start to emerge from the main stem, and between the 3rd and 4th week, produce long thin side branches giving her a Christmas tree bushy profile. Her main stem is developing into hard wood that has been blown around until the point of being totally solid in the pot. So far Chem Bomb Auto is thriving and seems to be heat resistant and wind resistant. I continue to feed 5ml of Cannazyme, 5ml with 5 drops of humic acid per litre of water. The roots are starting to grow out of the bottom of the fabric pots, which tells me she has a very strong root structure also and
The whole plant hanging after the flush.
even during the hottest points of the day shows no signs of an unhealthy root zone. The height after 30 days is measured at 40cm exactly, and grows a long central apical dominance, and layers of branches that reach out far and wide, giving her a very wide appearance. The leaf structure is thin and narrow and resin is beginning to form on the leaves and around the white fuzzy pistils. As the flowers form, each branch becomes more compact and fills out in a uniform manner. Day 40 passes and when measured she comes in at 46cm so seems to be growing still, despite become full from top to bottom with even sized buds. The aroma when smelling the plants is a musky, fuel dominant aroma which is mixed with bursts of citrus, I continue to feed the same amount of Cannazyme and humic acid at 5ml per litre and watch as she thrives in the hot Spanish sun. Another great thing about this auto flowering strain, is the insects don’t seem to go near it which is a massive advantage. 50 days in from seed, and aromas are very loud, and smelt from a distance, so be careful growing this lady if you have neighbours close by. She continues to
grow and once she hit 52cm, ceased to grow any taller, meaning anyone who wants to grow a short sized, lowprofile top-quality variety, would do very well with Chem Bomb Auto. The temperatures outside now are cooling down considerably and reach a max of 25 degrees during the day, which has allowed the Chem Bomb Auto to produce such incredible looking and smelling flowers. I decided to harvest Chem Bomb Auto on day 69 at a final height of 52cm with a large number of heavy weighted side branches, all covered in resin. She is placed inside the drying tent at 50% humidity and is left to hang for a full 14 days before being trimmed and cured. My Conclusion The terps can be described as gassy, chemical, musky with hints of rotting lemons and fuel. When smoking the taste is very similar to the aroma when growing. A very productive strain that would work incredibly well grown closely together in a Sea of Green, or placed inside a much larger pot. The effects are instant and can keep you in a dreamy state that is well suited for creative and busy individuals.
16
COOKING QUIZ WITH BETTY GREEN
7. How can you eliminate the smell when de-carbing?
1. Before cooking, you must... A. Decarboxylate your weed. B. Wash your Weed. C. Fry your weed. D. Grind your weed.
2. What is THCA? A. A minor cannabinoid. B. Another name for CBD. C. An ingredient you cook with. D. The raw non psychoactive form of THC.
3. What does Decarboxylation do? A. Kills any bacteria. B. Improves taste. C. Activates the cannabinoids. D. Improves texture.
4. How do you decarboxylate your weed? A. Microwave it for 1 min per gram. B. Bake at 115-146C for 20-30 mins. C. Bake at 100C for 1 hour. D. Boil it for 15 minutes.
A. Use a silicon box with a lid. B. With a powerful kitchen extraction fan. C. Use a “sous vide” machine. D. You can’t, its impossible.
A. Because sweet treats are best for edibles. B. They compliment the taste of cannabis. C. They mask the taste of cannabis. D. They are really popular.
8. How do you get the most THC into your food?
15. Why should you not cook edibles over 180C?
A. Make a canna butter or oil infusion. B. Add de-carbed flower direct. C. Boil it and use as a liquid ingredient. D. Lower the recipes cooking temp by 10C.
A. The smell will attract attention. B. The high heat will burn off cannabinoids. C. The food will have a burnt taste. D. The food will cook more evenly.
9. What is Sunflower Lecithin used for?
16. What if my recipe needs over 180C?
A. Improves flavour. B. Cooks food quicker. C. Keeps food fresh longer. D. It increases the absorption of THC into your food.
A. You will not be able to make it. B. Add double the infusion dosage. C. Reduce temperature and increase cooking time. D. Cook in smaller batches at lower temperatures.
10. Why is coconut oil best for making canna oil?
17. How can I test how strong my infusion is?
A. Melts easily. B. It has a high level of fats to bind to cannabinoids. C. Tastes better. D. Can be stored for longer.
A. Swap 1/2-1 tsp of regular oil/butter for infusion, per serving. B. Swap the full amount of regular butter/ oil for infusion. C. Swap half for half. D. 3/4 regular oil/butter !/4 infusion.
11. How long will canna-oil keep for?
18. What if my infusion is too strong?
A. 6 months at room temp, in a dark glass container. B. 1 week, it has to be fresh. C. 2 weeks if stored in the fridge. D. 3 months.
A. Throw it away. B. Add more regular oil or butter to the infusion and re-test. C. Cook food at a 20C higher. D. Cook food for 30 mins longer.
12. How long will canna-butter keep for? 5. Exceeding an oven temp of 150C will A. Degrade and destroy cannabinoids. B. Make the weed taste stronger. C. Activate more cannabinoids. D. Do no harm.
6. What parts can I decarboxylate? A. Just the buds. B. Buds and leaves. C. Just the shake. D. Buds, leaves, stems and shake.
14. Why are coffee and chocolate good flavours?
A. 1 week, it has to be fresh. B. 3 months in fridge, 6 months in freezer. C. 2 weeks in fridge. D. 3-4 days.
19. What if my infusion is too weak? A. Swap regular oil/butter for 1/2-1 tsp more infusion per serving. B. Make a new batch with more cannabis. C. Eat larger portions. D. Swap regular oil/butter for 1 tbsp more infusion per serving.
13. How should you add the infusion to your recipe?
20. What must you do when serving an infused dish to others?
A. Grate it to distribute evenly. B. Add in solid form. C. Mash it up first to soften but not melt. D. Melt the butter/oil and add. (coconut oil is solid at room temp).
A. Ask if they have any allergies. B. Serve it with drinks. C. Ask them if they want multiple servings. D. Let them know exactly what is in it. For answers see page 38
17
GROW WITH STONEY TARK By Stoney Tark
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOIL What is Soil?
Microorganisms
Soil is a mixture of organic minerals and matter that have decomposed within their environment over time. It can take a significant time frame before soil is formed and there are over 70,000 different types of soil actively present in the USA alone.
Everything on this planet is a carbonbased life form from the most complex, to the very basic. When it comes to a healthy staple diet for beneficial bacteria and fungi, nothing suits them better than organic matter in a state of decomposition, liquid carbs such as molasses or sugar based nutrient solutions and humic acids. As the microbes and fungi are actively working to break the compost down, into a ready to utilize nutrient for the plants, there is an on-going cycle between fresh organic matter and it becoming the final state
Normally packed full of indigenous microorganisms that have adapted to the climate and landscape over thousands of years, soil is combined with a living intelligence known as living soil or the soil food web. The way that beneficial microorganism’s bond to plant roots is the same way as a host, but in this case the bacteria and fungi are helpful. When plant life originated from the Ocean and once it grew on land used a root system to feed from the ground. This is how fungi and bacteria formed an early symbiotic relationship with plants and have successfully co-existed since the dawn of time. • • • • •
There are over 70,000 different types of soil in America. Soil can take up to 500 years to break down to a small pile. Earthworms eat through 15 tons of soil per year. Soil is thriving with beneficial microorganisms. You can make your own soil at home with a compost bin.
The Soil Is Alive! One of the key components of a thriving organic garden bed is to have a fine balance. This means that the soil is alive and kicking, and under a microscope is able to enhance root mass by up to 800% in some cases. The way that these fine microscopic root hairs work is by acting as an extension to the root, meaning it can now access smaller spaces that were too big prior to the synoptic relationship forming. If you were to do a soil sample you would find that within a gram of soil culture are over 5000 microorganisms, all designed to work in harmony with the plant kingdom.
What To Feed the
• • •
Organic compost teas are incredible for stimulating the soil life. Brown coloured organic matter such as leaves are a rich source of Carbon. Humic acids are a liquid form of compost that is also an excellent stimulator.
The Relationship with Earthworms You can always identify how fertile or fresh a soil pie is based on the number of worms inside. Believe it or not these little guys do a lot of work behind the scenes, from eating through tons of soil each year, aerating soil beds and excreting a beneficial microorganism.
The Characteristics of Good Soil Not just any soil will do when you are planning to grow the finest organic Cannabis, so you should forget about the cheap stuff from the local garden shop or supermarket, and instead base your criteria on the following. • • • • •
The texture is light and airy. A good colour of dark soft organic matter. There is a sweet, solvent fungi aroma coming from the soil sample. The soil has good water holding capabilities and does not become wet and heavy. You are able to see worms freely crawling around inside.
A handful of soil that has been composting for years.
•
Perlite has been added inside to aid in better aeration and drainage.
The Characteristics of Bad Soil It is very easy to end up with a bad quality soil, especially if you choose to go to the local garden centre out of convenience. It is only when you get home and rip the packaging open, you see the soil is thick and feels bulky and heavy. Below are the characteristics of bad soil and what to avoid. • •
When opening the bag there is a bad smell that is not reminiscent of a forest floor. Watch out for small flies that are
• • •
living inside the soil and any other small insects. There is no sign of earthworms or if so, they are dead. After watering becomes very heavy and takes a long time to fully dry. Is mixed with stones and small pieces of gravel.
My 3 Top Tips When Growing Cannabis with Soil 1. 2. 3.
Mix coco with soil to create a very airy and spongy grow medium. Add a top dressing every 4 weeks to keep the beneficials working hard. Mixing 50% perlite to your soil will dramatically improve drainage and retention.
18
GROW WITH RICH HAMILTON
DISCO BISCUITS
Every issue, we dive into the pages of Soft Secrets writer Rich Hamilton’s Personal Bud Diary.
EXTRACTS FROM THE BUD DIARIES GENETICS An Indica dominant hybrid (70/30) Disco Biscuits is a multi-cup winning strain, bred by Underground Originals (UGORG) and is a cross of the legendary Girl Scout Cookies and UGORG (a mix of UK cheese and UGORG’s Blues). It has a high THC content of around 22%.
GROW INFO Offering a medium to high yield, this strain responds well to cultivation techniques such as super-cropping and quickly forms heavy swollen buds full of flavour and potency. The flowering period is 8-9 weeks, in which time you can expect rock hard nuggets full of THC that are quick to Harvest due to a great bud to leaf ratio.
FLOWER The “cheese” force is strong in this one,
with disco Biscuit having quite an “Old Skool” aesthetic with more strong greens and pistil coverage and a more modest coating of trichomes covering the tightly packed and well-cured nug. There are even flecks of tonal dark purple on the tips of some leaves that give the nug a bit more depth and character. However, don’t let the understated appearance fool you because it does not make it any the less of a potent strain. Break it open, and you are treated to a complimenting palette of vivid pea green and paler shades that burst out from underneath its dark outer casing. It grinds up very satisfyingly, too, with a nice crisp crunch, spilling out more of that beautiful bold green.
ODOUR My attention is first brought to that creamy, sweet cookies scent from that
famous parentage of Girl Scout Cookies on releasing the lid. On breaking the nug up, however, its complete profile comes through. A familiar and nostalgic waft of “cheese “ hits me and instantly transports me to my teenage years. The sweet biscuity smell of Cookies is very moreish, whereas the skunky cheesy notes are comforting and alluring.
CONSUMED This bud was gifted to me by a Rabbit down South. Smoked pure in a super-thin organic rolling paper with a card roach. Me and a Grafitti writer friend of mine smoked this all night. We saved the last joint till the morning, one for the walk back from the train yard.
TASTE Disco Biscuit at first has a sweet, flowery flavour first with an unmistakable diesel undertone and a spicy kick coming
later, no doubt the result of its Cheesy parentage. The smoke is smooth and creamy and goes down a dream; I can imagine that this strain would be just as good in a bong.
STONE As expected from an indica dominant strain, the hit on this was more on the body. Whilst it was heavy, it wasn’t overpowering, which was surprising given its relatively high THC. Being from the UK, I am more than familiar with a “cheese” high, and Disco Biscuit took me there to an extent, with the Cookies lineage helping to tip me over the edge gently. Due to its high THC content and relaxing effects, this strain is a great medicinal choice for anyone suffering from depression, anxiety and chronic pain. Based on how effectively it gave me the munchies, I would also recommend it for anyone suffering from nausea or loss of appetite.
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23
GROW WITH STONEY TARK By Stoney Tark
Micro Breeding Cannabis at Home The seed game is currently in a state of disarray with more breeders than ever, ridiculous names that seem to be repeated over and over again, and extremely high prices to go with them. The idea then of making your own micro sized batch of regular seeds, may sound like a breath of fresh air, so below is better explained all you need to know to make your first batch of F1 seedlings, and how to dry and store the seeds properly! I have chosen to use a SANlight second generation Q5 series light, which has been turned to 25% capacity. The amount of light and heat being generated is perfect for this scale of project, which is another benefit of shorter sized plants. I would suggest using a high intensity light, such as a HPS or LED, but if you plan to use CFL, then you will need to make sure the light intensity is as close as possible. The idea behind this project is to allow me to grow small plants with very little electricity output. THE PROGENITOR
Here are 8 females and 1 male in this tent using 65W. THE GOAL Breeding Cannabis covers many aspects from the basic pollen chucking from one chosen male to your best female, or if you are serious about your craft, all of the work that goes in behind the scenes from selection process, stress testing, smoking and lab testing. In this case the goal is to produce around 100-200 seeds per plant, with small sized plants that are flowered in plastic pint sized pots. There will only be one male plant inside and the tent will be packed with 9 plants inside. As a breeder myself, I am using this opportunity to make 8 new hybrids with one male.
• • •
sense. The beauty of this project is once the male plant begins to flower in accordance with the females, you will simply hand pollinate the female white pistils as each pollen sac opens in its own time, or allow the male to brush into the other plants. Once you have made contact with the pollen and female pistils, you will notice the bright white hair turn orange from the tip downwards. HOW LONG BEFORE SEEDS GROW? What will happen now the hairs turned to orange or brown is that a seed will form, instead of a calyx that can be smoked. You will notice there will be a pip formation around the pistil, that has an emphasised point tip. It usually takes around 6-7 weeks until the seeds are viable and ready to pick, however some cultivars can be much faster and some demand much more time. DRYING AND LABELLING
Once your hard work has paid off the next step is to clean up the seeds, then label them and store them away correctly. The way this should be done is to allow the plants to become fully dry and then the seeds should effortlessly fall away when rubbed
• • • •
Always clean your seeds up and remove any plant material. Store away in a water proof bag and clearly label. Place your seeds inside a fridge and keep them there until you need them. Do not expose the seeds to direct sunlight or allow them to get wet and damp.
My Top Tip: Each plant produces different types of seeds, so be extra patient even when you think all of the seeds are ready for picking, give it an extra week in my opinion.
The refers to the male plant that will transfer the pollen to the female. As we are not making feminised seeds and opening up the gene pool into a first generation, it is necessary to have a male plant. The best way to find your male is to plant 5-10 seeds, flower them and when you have the desired traits from the male plant, simply pull the other 4-9 plants away. The male used in my project is an Orange Bud male from Dutch Passion, which was flowered at a height of 30cm and finished close to 60cm. THE BEST WAY TO POLLINATE
Horticultural LED Lighting
If it's your first time ever working with male and female Cannabis plants, then there is no best way to pollinate in that
upgradeable maximum efficiency daisy-chainable
Small sized plants 100-200 micro batch quantity 9 plants inside in this example
Q6W
KEEPING PLANTS SMALL You will want to allow the selected male and females to flower in pint sized pots, to allow the final height to be short. Some strains may have a tendency to grow tall even in a small pot, however I find this size keeps feeding simple, the plants are very healthy and happy and it allows me to get a good idea of how each individual strain reacts in this environment. THE RIGHT LIGHT
support@sanlight.com The final size of the male once removed from the tent.
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24
GROW WITH MR. JOSE Mr. José / info@mrjose.eu
AUTOFLOWERING OR CLASSIC? Are you contemplating whether to grow automatic or classic strains? Or have you tried both and are not sure which is more suitable for you? From time to time, I face this dilemma too. I am experienced in growing both types outdoor as well as indoor and, in this article, I will summarize all the knowledge you might need to make a qualified decision.
Nowadays indoor autos are easily comparable with classics (Auto Lemon Skunk XXL).
Definition of terms In order to avoid possible confusion, I will first explain the basic concepts that are most likely already familiar to most of you. By classic varieties I mean shortday strains. They only start to mature, i.e. to form sex cells, when the daylight is reduced to around 13 hours. You won't see the classic varieties start flowering earlier. You can influence the length of day provided you grow in a greenhouse with a possibility to cover the roof or
when growing indoor under artificial light. Outdoor, you are dependent on a regular natural cycle, which means classic strains would not start flowering until August and are ready to harvest between late September and early November (in the northern hemisphere). The autoflowering varieties are neutral varieties, meaning they start to mature at certain stage of their life, regardless of the length of day and night. I don't know exactly why neutral varieties are called automatic or autoflowering, but
it's probably for marketing reasons. The term “neutral” doesn't convey the appropriate feeling that growing them should be easy. On the other hand, the names autoflowering or automatic strains immediately suggest that growing such varieties is completely self-sufficient. Which is not quite true, but I'll get to that. The vast majority of the seeds of autoflowering strains are available in feminized form, thus only females will grow from them. This is no surprise, as feminized seeds have been crushing the non-feminized (regular) ones for years. I am clarifying these terms so that people don't confuse classic (feminized) seeds with non-feminized seeds. To make it clear: in this article, I am comparing the cultivation of classic short-day and neutral varieties.
fastest varieties can be ready to harvest in less than 70 days after germination, plus they are usually smaller, which means there is no need to struggle in your grow room with huge plants.
Autoflowering strains hit the market
Still, classic varieties also have some advantages, or – in other words – there are disadvantages to autoflowering strains, too. 1) One can make clones from classic varieties, but not from autoflowers. 2) Clones can be harvested as early indoor as autoflowering varieties, but with lower electricity costs. 3) When grown outdoors, classic varieties can yield many more grams per plant than autoflowering strains. It is only logical because the longer plants can grow, the larger they are. The advantages and disadvantages must be evaluated by each gardener according to their own preferences. Personally, I like to grow autoflowering strains outdoors. The fact they can be harvested so quickly is something I thoroughly enjoy. I also like the fact that I don't have to worry so much about mould – an issue I often have to deal with in the wet autumn months when growing the classic varieties. For growing indoor, however, I go for the classics, since I generally prefer growing from clones. However, the reason behind this is that I focus on standardised production, and in this regard the growing from seed is usually problematic. There is always some variability when growing one strain from seeds. Although many small home growers are happy to have different phenotypes and chemotypes of one strain (even in a packet of ten seeds), this instability is not desirable for commercial, standardized production. That being said, I have a section of autoflowering plants in my testing grow room. If you haven't tried them yet, I highly recommend doing so.
Hemp industry has been familiar with neutral varieties for quite some time. They are as common as monoecious strains, which produce both male and female sex organs in one plant. Nonetheless, for growers and consumers focused on high cannabinoid content, neutral varieties have long been of no interest because taste and yields were poor. The first and most famous strain with better taste and effect is undoubtedly Lowryder, which appeared around 2005, as far as I am aware. But the real boom in autoflowering came about a decade later. Around that time, the really high-yielding varieties began to pop up, and the flavour and aroma were starting to be as good as classic strains. Outdoor growers living in colder regions or places where summer ends earlier were truly excited. Autoflowering strains gave them the confidence that their plants would be mature before the autumn rains and cold arrive. With classic varieties, they could never be certain, and, after nearly six months of growing, such outdoor growers often had to harvest their plants early, before they were fully mature. This was sad, of course, since it had a negative effect on the weight of the harvest and its quality. It didn’t take long before indoor growers using artificial lighting also jumped on the autoflowering bandwagon. And the main reason? That growing them is easy. Suddenly there was no need to consider when to reduce the amount of light and switch into the flowering stage. Automatic strains do well when they receive light between 18-22 hours per day for the whole growing cycle. The
Advantages and disadvantages I have already mentioned a number of advantages of autoflowering strains in the previous paragraphs. Let’s summarize them for the record: 1) Outdoors, they can mature in cooler conditions. 2) They can receive the highest intensity of summer sun. 3) There is no need to change the light cycle when grown indoor. 4) There is a short period of time between sowing and harvest. 5) The plants do not grow too tall.
Growing specifics While the growing of classic strains is
25 very well mastered and described today, there are still some different views when it comes to growing methods with autoflowers. You can often hear, for example, that autoflowering strains require less nutrition. However, this depends on the point of view. When you compare a classic and an automatic strain when grown outdoors, it is likely that in absolute terms the classic will need more nutrients. The obvious reason is that its life cycle is twice as long, and it produces way more biomass. However, in my experience, wellfertilised autoflowers have demonstrably higher yields than their less fertilised counterparts. In both cases, it is a good idea to place the seeds or seedlings in a slightly pre-fertilised, light growing medium. For example, Light-Mix is an excellent choice. This mix can be purchased from various manufacturers. My favourite brands are Plagron and BioBizz. As soon as the plants start to show visible growth and vigour (after about three weeks from germination) they should be fertilised at least a little. I would recommend organic fertilizers when growing in soil, and mineral fertilizers when grown hydroponically. The short life cycle of autoflowering strains gives little room to fix potential flaws and damage. If you stress your plants somehow, you can significantly affect the outcome of the entire growing cycle – in a negative way. Imagine, for example, that you fertilise the plants too much at the beginning of the
growing cycle or expose them to low temperatures. A common reaction is for the plants to stop growing for a week, sometimes even longer. Classic strains still have plenty of time to make up for the loss – provided the conditions improve. In case of autoflowers, however, they can become totally stunted, meaning the plant is unable to resume to normal growth in time. The results are dwarfed plants with low yields. Therefore, try to avoid stressing autoflowering strains as much as possible. While classic varieties can be easily replanted twice during their growing cycle, autoflowers are best sown directly into the container in which they spend their entire life. Personally, I prefer to pre-grow seeds and have good experiences in this area. With autoflowering strains, I plant the seedlings in pots as soon as the first true leaves appear. At this stage, the roots have not yet grown out of the available substrate in the small pot. When transplanting, I take extra care to ensure that the substrate around the roots does not collapse or fall off. Give your autoflowers warmth, plenty of nutrients and proper watering. The more space you provide to roots, the better odds to reach a bountiful harvest. If growing in a pot, use at least a 12-litre container. I use 25-litre pots for outdoor growing and 15-litre pots indoor. Autoflowering varieties also greatly appreciate loads of light. For growing indoor, a 20-hours long light cycle and 4 hours of dark has worked best for me. When growing outdoors, I think the best
Growing outdoors, classic could get much bigger than autos. time to start germinating is the second half of May. The plants start to show the first signs of flowering around the 20th day after sowing and will flower for about 50 days. Plants sown in the second half of May enjoy the longest day, the highest light intensity, and often the hottest part of the year. Plants sown in June will also have excellent conditions (this is true for the northern hemisphere). Plants sown later in the summer will reward you with beautiful colouring, which is more pronounced in plants maturing in autumn.
Although there are some cons to growing autoflowering strains, it is easier in several ways and there are many pros. In any case, I believe they are an excellent option for outdoor growers. But even if you decide to grow them under artificial light, you can have amazing harvests – provided you follow the correct growing methods. I honestly hope this article has helped you decide what to plant next. Now I am looking forward to writing a new article for the next issue of your favourite magazine Soft Secrets.
Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Indoor Cannabis Growing
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Autos are great for even for growers with balcony or tiny gardens (CBD Auto White Widow).
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26
GROW WITH STONEY TARK By Stoney Tark
FLOWERING CANNABIS PLANTS INDOORS
You have been patiently waiting for your Cannabis seedlings or clones to grow up, and now is the most anticipated time, the flowering stage. It is during this point your plants will produce the buds that will be smoked and depending on how well they are grown, will express terpenes, colour pigment and trichomes. Below is all you need to know about your plants during the flowering stage and how to get the best indoor crop possible.
• •
• • •
L.S.T (Low Stress Training) or tying down. Topping the top shoot responsible for apical dominance. Using a screen if required to pass the plants under (SCROG).
What Nutrients Do My Plants Need?
Bat Guano is high in Phosphorus. High amounts of Nitrogen will cause plants to produce male and female flowers.
Sugar Based Feeds
It is very important that Cannabis plants have access to sugar rich feeds when flowering. One reason is to stimulate microbial life and the other is to push sugars into the buds. Carbohydrates are crucial for packing on the pounds, so if you are an organic grower, you may like
There are ways to control the stretch, however these should be done during the latter part of the vegetative stage and include:
1. Keeping your plants too close together can prevent air flow and also create ideal places for insects to reside. Make sure there is a good amount of fresh air blowing around the bottoms and tops of the plants.
4. Keeping your lights too close to the tops of the plants. Make sure there is enough distance so the air close to the plants is cooler.
Make sure all the segments are pressed down or up correctly. Avoid any light breaks from outside light sources during dark periods. Have a backup timer in the event of a malfunction emergency. Once 12/12 has started avoid changing the lighting hours.
The reason why female Cannabis plants stretch so much once they receive 12/12, is the same reason a teenager experiences a growth spurt. Both are hormone related and designed to set them up for the mature stage of their lives.Cannabis plants vary in stretching ratio with indica dominant plants being the shortest in final height (making them suited for a Sea of Green) and sativa leaning plants will be the most likely to dramatically shoot up, so plant training is advised (ideal for SCROG).
5 Things to Avoid When Flowering Cannabis Indoors
3. Hammering your plants with excessive nutrients, under the impression that the more you feed then the bigger the buds will become. Flushing your plants is a very important part of the flowering period and will play a big role in the final taste.
Once you make the switch to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness, the plants will experience a hormonal change that will cause the plants to stretch upwards and focus on flower production. During the first 21 days of the flowering period, it is normal for strains to jump up in height by 100-200% their original size, and in some cases even more.
Stretching Plants
coloured. Calyx development is at its peak and fully swollen. The terpene profile is the most aromatic it has ever been. The lower buds are as mature and well developed as the top buds. 7
2. Do not foliar feed your plants once you see buds forming. Unless it is being used as a preventative then be careful, however avoid spraying anything after ay 30 of 12/12/
Switching Your Timer To 12/12
• • • •
• • •
5. Avoid light breaks so when entering the tent during the dark there are no exterior lights, and the side vents of the tents are fully closed when the lights are off.
A well grown flower that is covered in fully mature trichomes off the dry net.
There will also be a shift in the nutrients that your plants require. As well as the normal trace elements, you will want to provide a nutrient that is higher in the Phosphorus and Potassium. Generally, the nutrient companies who make the nutrients in liquid or hard form, will provide a nutrient chart to follow with this in mind. You will want to avoid high Nitrogen feed as these can inhibit flowering and also induce hermaphroditism if the plants are exposed to at high rates.
the idea of using black strap molasses or honey mixed with water.
• It is better to use worm castings as a friendly form of Nitrogen.
• The majority of the trichomes under a microscope are milky or amber
Flushing Your Indoor Crop
The art of harvesting your Cannabis plants takes time and experience, however there are ways to determine if your plants are now ready to harvest. Just because the seed packet states a certain number of days, it is a good idea to base the harvest window on the following variables. Flushing your Cannabis plants will produce the best tasting flowers.
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CANNABIS CUISINE By Betty Green
WHAT MAKES THE PERFECT SPACE CAKE? The culinary sector of the legal cannabis market is growing at breakneck speed. However, cooking edibles at home proves to be just as popular with more information, recipes, and good quality cannabis available than ever before.
When you start making your own edibles, one big dilemma is what form of cannabis you should use? As with most things canna related, I don't believe in a "one size fits all" answer. Whether you use Flower or Hash, you can still make some delicious food. Cooking with cannabis Flower is economical, allowing you to use up all your trim as you can decarboxylate everything, not just the buds! It's also an excellent way to make use of any older or less favourable product that you otherwise would not use. Using the actual plant material means that you will receive as much of the "entourage" effect as possible from your edibles. When using Flower, you can choose a strain based on its full cannabinoid or terpene profile or the Indica/Sativa effects that you want to achieve. Many people Flower to cook with Flower as they prefer the authentic taste it imparts. There is also a strain for every occasion and one that will pair nicely with every food type, similarly to how wine is paired with food. Using Flower does have some disadvantages, however. It is difficult to accurately predict THC and dosage size. Unlike with Hash, you work with all the plant material and not just the THC rich trichomes. While you can add Flower straight to your dishes, it will significantly alter the texture and taste. I would strongly recommend that you make a butter or oil infusion that will taste better, be easier to use and contain no excess plant material. Compared to Flower, it is easier to estimate the THC content and serving size dosages with Hash. Hash also has more of an earthy, complex flavour than Flower, pairing well with meat or mushroombased sauces and chocolate and caramel flavours. Gram for gram, hashish edibles have a higher THC concentration than their Flower counterparts and a longer lifespan. You may be missing some of the entourage effects; however, your edibles will make up for this by kicking your ass with THC. Hash requires less time to Decarboxylate than Flower, 10-20 mins at 115C should do it. Infusions are less messy to prepare, too, with no need to strain the plant material out of the final product. Good quality dry-sift Hash is the easiest to work with. Blondish-brown, dry and crumbly, it has a distinctive taste without being overpowering. It can be easily
ground up and added to recipes or made into an infusion. Dry ice hash or Kief is an excellent choice also. It is easy to work with and has a mild flavour that blends in well with most foods. Hand-rubbed Hash is much darker, rigid, shinier and stickier due to being heavily pressed. An overly sticky hash may have had extra oil added to increase weight, which will impact negatively on quality. Due to its texture, Hand-rubbed Hash is best used in an infusion. If you are still unsure what form to use, just have fun experimenting until you find the best fit. The best Space cake for one person is not necessarily the best for someone else. It all depends on what YOU want out of the experience. There is no one set way to make a Space Cake; again, it all hinges on personal preference. I have chosen a simple, tasty muffin recipe that uses canna infused
cooking oil which can be made with either cannabis Flower, Hash, or both. Muffins are great as they are light enough to have as a breakfast "on the go" as a snack at any time of day or when you are relaxing with a coffee. Muffins can also be kept for up to 3 months in an airtight container in your freezer! Substitute the chocolate and cocoa powder for other flavours and ingredients if you wish. To top things off, you could make some Canna-butter cream to add another kick. Or simply mix some CBD oil into some icing and drizzle over the top to balance out all the THC and give you a more layered high. INGREDIENTS 125g 25g tsp 1 60g
plain flour cocoa powder baking powder large egg caster sugar
2 tbsp 100ml 50g 100g
vegetable oil (substitute your chosen amount of canna oil) whole milk chocolate chunks icing sugar (for optional icing glaze)
Method Heat oven to 180C/160C fan. Sieve the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into a bowl. Line a muffin tin with six muffin cases. Mix the egg, sugar, oil, milk and chocolate chips together in a jug, then gradually pour into the dry ingredients and mix well. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases and bake for 20-25 mins. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Icing Glaze Gradually mix ½-1 tbsp water into the icing sugar, add a few drops of CBD oil and drizzle over the muffins once cool.
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SEED BANKS Text: Tommy L. Gomez Photos: Sweet Seeds®
GROWING THE NOVEL ® RUNTZ XL AUTO FROM ® SWEET SEEDS ICE CREAM, COOKIES AND DELICIOUS FRUITS! From time to time, I feel like starting a quick marijuana crop, which allows me to get a high quality harvest in just a couple of months. But in no case should the aromas and potency be compromised. I rarely decide to start a new crop of autoflowering plants right away without having to think about it for a while. But when Sweet Seeds® announced the launch of the new Runtz XL Auto® (SWS88) I had no doubts. This 6th-generation autoflowering strain with Zkittlez and Gelato genes seems to have all the potential to become the star of the 2021 season, both indoors and outdoors, so I had to give it a try. Here is my story with this bombshell of cannabis genetics. The day I received the seeds, I immediately placed 9 of them between two damp pieces of kitchen paper and left them hermetically sealed in a plastic container and in a dark place in the house. About 24 hours later, I had my first look at them, but the first seeds started to sprout only 24 hours later. By the fourth day they were all
ready to be planted into the soil. To begin with, I used small 300 ml cups to accommodate the plants for the first two weeks. They grew quickly, with great homogeneity in a total of 9 cups placed under an 18W CFL lamp, with a fan moving air directly to the small plants, to help strengthen their stems from the early stages of growth.
GROWING RUNTZ XL AUTO® About 16 days after the appearance of the cotyledons, the plants were ready to be transplanted into their final pots. I took care when transplanting them, since the last thing you want with autoflowering plants is to cause
stress on the roots, which slows down their growth. If you are growing autoflowering plants and you are not sure if you can safely transplant them to a different pot, it is best to plant them directly into their final pot and grow them there from germination to harvest. My Runtz XL Auto® seedlings were already showing a strong stem,
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with organic nutrients - such as earthworm humus and powdered bat guano, among others - I avoided using any liquid fertiliser while the plants stretched. And they grew vigorously, in only 12 days, from 30 cm to more than 70 cm.
THE FLOWERING OF RUNTZ XL AUTO® On day 37, my Runtz XL Auto® plants were focusing all their energy on their central bud and side branches. Many flowers were starting to gain shape and everything was very promising. The first sweet aromas could be perceived and the plants seemed ready to benefit from a little liquid organic fertiliser. I took note that, in the catalogue description of this strain, the ideal maturity is estimated to be reached about 8 weeks after germination, so it is important to stop feeding the plants at least 14 days before the final cut. Anyway, I enjoy my weed at a good maturity, so I counted on harvesting at about 60 days. Ultimately, I fed them only 3 times: at days 37, 41 and 44. Then I gently washed the roots, with twice as much water as I usually give them, and continued to just pour pure water about 5 times until harvest.
with a very interesting size. They were healthy and resistant, so their transplant went perfectly. After 17 days, they were already in their final pots. This time I used 7-litre pots. I can normally fit 9 11-litre pots in my 1-square-metre grow tent. But this time I was confident about this strain's qualities, as it has a short lifecycle (with only 8 weeks from cotyledon emergence to harvest). It is good to grow the plants in their final pots 17 days after germination, because then you know that they have enough time to fully adapt to the new substrate, before the flowering really starts a couple of weeks later. At this stage, they were placed under a 600W HPS lamp. Growing plants in the middle of winter and with the use of an RVK extractor fan helps remove the ambient heat. In this case, minimum temperatures never dropped below 19°C and the maximum temperatures always remained below 28°C. To
improve the air circulation inside the tent, I used two small fans blowing air towards the upper parts of the plants and towards the high-pressure sodium lamp, so as to directly dissipate a part of the heat. With a few centimetres of empty space between the pots in the lower areas of the tent, the plants were certainly benefiting from effective air renewal and circulation in the environment. 25 days after germination, all plants showed a short internodal distance, and a good number of small side branches seemed to be ready to stretch and produce buds. At this time, pre-flowers started to appear on a few specimens. Between day 25 and day 30, some differences in the structure of the plants were already visible, although they were not too significant. The difference in height between the lowest and the highest plant was only 6 cm (26 cm vs. 32 cm). As I decided to enrich the soil mix
Although Runtz XL Auto® is a very well balanced indica-sativa hybrid, its specimens have a slightly more indica structure, with a compact shape and many short but strong branches supporting tight, thick but not too long buds. In general, you can expect a very long and compact central bud and then 5-7 side buds of very good size. The 9 plants showed a very homogeneous structure. The tallest plant reached 88 cm, and the shortest 76 cm. The calyx-leaf ratio is outstanding, just the way I like it, as it not only presents the advantage of making their pruning much easier, but also produces, at harvest, a percentage of flowers which is much higher than usual. Their buds were formed by a multitude of swollen calyxes and were totally covered with resin. When rolling my joints, I have the patience to remove all the little leaves and stems, which takes a bit of time, but with Runtz XL Auto® flowers I was able to do so about four times faster than I usually do with most strains.
HARVESTING AND
TASTING RUNTZ XL AUTO® On day 54, the plants were almost ready. Two of them could be harvested immediately, but I decided to harvest them all on the same day. The fragrances and aromas were delicious and filled the whole room. They were also very homogeneous, with a fairly similar smell in all of them as I rubbed the flowers with my fingers for a high terpene-rich olfactory experience. No doubt, some had a stronger fruity smell than others, but they all gave off deliciously sweet smells. This is one of the reasons why the Runtz strain revolutionised the Californian cannabis scene as one of the most aromatic and potent genotypes on the West Coast of the United States of America. On day 60, all 9 plants were more than ready, better said, at exactly the right point of maturity (as far as I could see) and were even slightly overripe, which is a major plus based on my cannabinoid profile preferences as a cannabis consumer. All were harvested and pruned on the same day. Every cannabis grower knows that it is very common that, on harvest day, there is such an intense smell in the house that sometimes it becomes even a bit unpleasant. But this time, with this amazing strain from the Sweet Seeds® genetics collection, it did not happen. The whole house smelled of sweets and fruits for many hours. The flowers dried in about 12 days and were put into hermetically sealed glass jars to cure for 2 to 3 weeks. I obtained about 50 grams per plant, which was great considering a 60 day crop with 9 plants in a square meter and 7-litre pots. Both the smoke and the vapour of this strain are truly exquisite and delicious. The sweet and fruity aromas that filled the house in the last few weeks proved to be a truly wonderful organoleptic experience. The plant's aromas linger in the mouth and nose for a long time when smoking or vaping some of its resinous flowers. Runtz XL Auto® has a potent, balanced effect that produces calm and relaxing vibrations. But that is not all... it also makes for a creative good time by effectively stimulating your imagination, and you will then decide which delicious Sweet Seeds® strain you will use in your next cannabis adventure.
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GROW WITH STONEY TARK By Stoney Tark
STONEY'S TOP TIPS on Temperature and Humidity Climates THE RIGHT HUMIDITY LEVELS
My Top Tip: When setting up your fans, make sure they are all oscillating at different times allowing the different air currents to intwine with each other. Also separate them into three parts and have one fan responsible for the lower third, another for the middle part and the third for the tops of the plant.
It is very important to make sure that your temperature, humidity and air flow are all in check. It can be debatable the exact humidity levels to provide your plants during the 12/12 period, so I personally opt for 50% during the day 1-28 of flowering with foliar feeding included. Once day 28 has passed, I will lower the humidity to a close to 35%40% and stop foliar feeding. My Top Tip: The best way to regulate your relative humidity is to use a hygrometer. These are small devices that will display a digital reading of the grow room. Over a 24-hour period, you will be able to see the lowest and highest point of that day at the touch of a button.
TEMPERATURE SPIKES The general rule of thumb when growing Cannabis indoors is to stick to 24 degrees Celsius, however It is hard to find any information about what the night time temperatures should be for optimum performance. On top of that, controlling the outside temperatures with the heat produced in front of your grow lights can be a challenging task. Living in South Spain, it is easy to see that Cannabis plants can endure far greater temperatures than 24 degrees Celsius. If you are able to maintain a consistent light on temperature of 24-26 degrees Celsius, then you will want to aim for a night time drop of 6-8 degrees Celsius, making the lowest temperature close to 18 degrees Celsius. A hygrometer will also give a temperature reading alongside the humidity levels, so you will be able to monitor the difference when the grow lights are off, and if you are hitting the sweet spot of a 6–8-degree decrease, or going way over and this having an adverse effect on the plants such as excessive stretching. My Top Tip: I think that flowering your Cannabis plants at night time has many benefits, and apart from a reduced electricity rate, you will also benefit from
Everyone has their own unique way of growing Cannabis indoors, which can always change over time and with experience based on what does and doesn’t work for them. This article will explain what to consider when it comes to temperature, humidity and air flow when flowering Cannabis indoors, including some top tips to help you get the most out of your indoor grow room.
MISTAKES TO AVOID!
shelled terrors will lay eggs and spread very quickly and they particularly enjoy hot and dry conditions with little air flow.
2. Blasting the plants with too much wind. If you are setting up your oscillating fans at different heights and angles, then you do not need to have excessive strong winds blowing at the plants.
1. Switching off your fans at night! Compromising the consistency of the air flow is not a good idea, and this is where you can invite powdery mildew, mould or worse case spider mites. These little hardThis hygrometer shows the temperature and humidity. a much cooler temperature outside to combat the heat of the lights. If you have experienced heat issues during the day and cannot influence them no matter what, then have a think about flowering from 10pm-10am for example. This basic adjustment can really help keep temperatures at bay and is especially effective in hotter climates.
A CONSISTENT AIR FLOW One of the biggest crop killers that I come across is not a heavy spider mite infestation, or a room full of crippling powdery mildew but poor airflow. No matter how good you grow your plants, poor air flow around the plants will encourage Botrytis to set in. The worst thing about this dangerous pathogen is how fast it can spread amongst your prized buds and in many cases, cause the buds to rot from the inside out. When you are flowering your plants, I personally like to use 3 fans which are all turning at different times from one another. The fans are also at different heights and are kept on 24/7 making sure that for the entire duration of the flowering period, that the plants are provided with fresh CO2 rich air from outside and are well aerated from top to bottom.
Your plants should be vibrant with colour.
The air flow should be refreshing and cause the foliage from the bottom and top of plants to freely move. Too much wind blasting directly at the plants will cause wind burn which affects transpiration.
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GENETICS By Hortizan
MUTATION, THE PERPETUAL EVOLUTION OF CANNABIS The shape of our favorite plant is very well known, even legendary. From your rolling papers pack to your little cousin’s cap, we can’t even imagine a derived product where it’s not present. But is the appearance of this unique plant left untouched for all these centuries? Has our beloved flower always been having this shape or color that makes it so recognizable? From odd apical multiplication, by original colors, to unbelievable leaf looks, here come several mutations in the cannabis world! Firstly, a little reminder of what is a mutation. It consists in a natural random event affecting the DNA composition or organization, both in terms of quality and quantity. Responsible for the biological diversity, the mutation is the creative engine of all species we know today. This article is about natural occurring mutations, without any human influence, as well as those where humanity played a role.
A diversified structure brings unrecognizable plants Polyploidy and fasciation - Cannabis is a diploid plant, which means it bears two chromosomes sets. Polyploidy, on the other hand, means a subject bears more sets than this just two. This means this phenomenon fully contribute to the evolution of many vegetable species, detaining new assets. Many cultivated vegetables are polyploidy: potato, cotton, wheat, coffee, lemontree, cucumber, banana, tangerine... In cannabis, polyploidy can express itself with beneficial traits, like bigger harvests and better seeds, or at the opposite clearly negative. This is the example of the fasciation (abnormal plant deformation), where some apex will see their flowers divide and multiply. This mutation can be random and natural, or artificial. Be careful though, fasciation can also result from an insect-transmitted disease, mutations aren’t always the reason for it. A recent research on cannabis polyploidy shows that new traits can still be found. We will not go into details here, but searches could one day reveal new genetics still unknown. To be continued. Whorled phyllotaxis - We all know the classic shape of a cannabis plant: on
each node stay two leaves and two branches. This is what phyllotaxis is: the placing of leaves or branches on stems. Except Mother Nature does not always respect this pattern! A node can bear three leaves and branches, or even more! In some cases, plants appear thicker. This is quite esthetically pleasing, and even could represent a benefit production wise, if it's correctly exploited! Twin embryos - This is a mutation that pleased more than just one grower: polyembryony. Pleasant surprise, only one seed reveals two sprouts. Each individual having its own root, it is possible to separate them during the first days of their lives. One of these two plants will be an exact replica of its mother, ideal opportunity to take clones! It’s also possible to obtain triplets, even if this type of mutation is even rarer!
adaptation of humid climates, this trait also belongs in some landraces outside of tropical regions, as it is the case in some Chefchaouen Beldia phenotypes, yet native of Moroccan Rif.
Incredible leaf mutations Leaf mutations are very diverse. Before going into further detail, here is one rather common occurring naturally on a
our bsite new we
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“Creeper” cannabis - The “creeper”, also named as “crawling” or “sprawling” cannabis, are individuals expressing a specific trait that favors the growing of lateral branches, up to the point of touching ground. Some of these plants will then develop new roots out of this contact points! These types of rare mutation principally existing in tropical regions, these individuals evidently favor high humidity, which could also explain such capacities. “Stringy” cannabis - Also qualified of “fibrous” cannabis, some equatorial genetics, coming from South America, Sout East Asia and Africa will product “stringy” flowers. These plants will develop calyxes on all branch length rather than dense flowers. This results in the apparition of unstructured flowers, with bracts (leaf part at the basis of the flower) growing end to end (exactly like Dr Grinspoon strain). Initially considered as being an
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it will thus easily find its place in your garden, unnoticed.
Striking colors Mutations can contribute to the production of uncommon colors: Red flowers, purple stems or branches, pink stigmas, or even purple trichomes, each plant part can be affected in many several ways. Some places seem even to be more suitable for chromatic development than others. For instance, the “Wailing Valley”, lost in Himalaya, is the perfect representation: pink stigmas, red flowers, purple/black leaves … These plants develop these colorful traits for their own reasons: resisting cold or sun, attracting pollinators, endozoochory (seed dispersal via ingestion by vertebrate animals) (cf. Photo 2.1 and 2.2)
From left to right : Beldia from Khalifa Genetics, Siberian Ruderalis by Khalifa Genetics, Ducksfoot by Underground seed collective, Subterfuge grown by Delicaseeds
Moroccan Beldia. (cf. Photo 1.1) Leaf bud - A bud is developing in the middle at the basis of the end of the leaf, at the extremity of the petiole. This is the development of a calyx or a flower even able to bear seeds in some cases. Nevertheless, this genetic anomaly represents very few benefits regarding production, producing mini buds of a very negligible size. Serrated leaves - Always natural, this mutation gives leaves a more important serration. Also qualified as “razorblade” leaves in some cases, this type of mutation occurs naturally in some Siberian Ruderalis.(cf. Photo 1.2) Ducksfoot - Also named “Webbed leaf”, is an indica landrace coming from Australia. Genetically pure, it is producing webbed leaves, looking like ducks feet, hence the name. Its uncommon shape made possible the creation of several new genetics way more discreet with very odd leaf patterns (cf. Photo 1.3). ABC - L’Australian Bastard Cannabis, also named ABC, Cannabis Australis ou Mongy weed, is a little known Australian variety. Its origins are as mysterious as its leaves. There are several versions linked to its history, but objecting one another. Some say ABC would be the result of Sativa crossed imported by English botanists, others that it would
have come with Arab Camel herders in the 1800s. Last theory would be that it is an Australian Landrace, isolated from the others during the continental drift. A fact that is complicated to consider, the very first fossilized cannabis pollen traces dating it back to 28 millions years. So, ancestor, distant relative or mysterious hybrid? Medical Genomics recent studies support this last thesis, suggesting several disparities in the ABC’s genetic profile, compared to modern strains.
Variegation, a rather common trait but complicated to stabilize Variegation is the incapacity of a plant to photosynthesize on some leaves. Naturally present in the vegetal word, it can also be searched and worked by some breeders. The big problem? The stabilization of such genes: these are recessive traits, which means more complicated to stabilize. Nevertheless, this could still represent an interest for its aesthetics or for camouflaged grows. This is exactly this search that was realized on the Pueblo Picasso, growing bicolor leaves. Here, the trait was
stabilized, its offspring also producing this variegation so recognizable (cf. Photo 2.3). Albinism - This particular mutation represents the incapacity of a plant to photosynthesis. Causing systematically a rapid death to the young plants, those will die consuming their stock until dying (cf. Photo 2.4). Representing a very particular case, stabilizing albinism seems doomed. Mutations are well more involved in the Botany and Cannabis universe than we can think of. Extremely diversified, these mutations often help in the making of new phenotypes, or even new genotypes. This diversity is so large that it would be impossible to refer to all mutations here, but you can read on Robert C. Clarke, Cannabis Evolution and Ethnobotany for further information on the subject. One thing seems certain: the unusual mutation you're today witnessing in your garden could be tomorrow's new variety. Because that’s what the first benefit of these new mutations is: the constant evolution of species, the disappearance of some, as well as the creation of new ones.
Big thanks to Al of Khalifa Genetics, Cristalin of Underground Seeds, FygTree, Trident Seeds and Delicaseeds for their help in the making of this article.
Until now, rather complicated to find for the common grower, some ABC seeds, its offspring (“subterfuge”, (cf. Photo 1.4)), and its hybrids are now available mainstream. They are yet not made for a unique grow, needing a minimum of hybridization to produce a qualitative product also bearing this odd mutation. Freakshow, “Cannabis Lusus Monstra” - Among mutations worked by man, is this new line called Freakshow. It is the result of across between a (Big Bud x Skunk#1) and a (Big Sur Holy Weed x Banana Kush), made by the breeder Shapeshifter. A long work of stabilization was needed to lock this unique trait. This Sativa dominant line enabled the creation of these very unusual leaves, sometimes called “fern” leaves. Behind its amazing looks is also an amazing discretion asset: the plant does not look like any cannabis plant,
From left to right : Wailing Valley pink pheno by Trident seeds, Wailing Valley dark pheno by Trident seeds, Pueblo Picasso F2 grown by Fygtree, Cambodian Albino by Khalifa Genetics
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MEDIA By Rich Hamilton
READ-LISTEN-WATCH Media reviews
This new feature will bring you a selection of media reviews carefully curated for canna lifestyle and culture. There's something for everyone, whether you want to be educated or just entertained; we've got you covered. Here are our recommendations on what to "Read" "Listen", and "Watch" this month.
READ
LISTEN
WATCH
Seth Rogen-Year Book
The Simpa Life Podcast-Simpa Carter
GONE TO POT-AMERICAN ROAD TRIP
If you are at all interested in the UK cannabis scene, then this podcast is a must! Simpa Carter is an experienced, passionate drug law reform activist, published writer, vlogger and mental health advocate from the North East of England.
Why on earth would I watch that? A load of ex-soap stars and c list celebs travelling around the USA in a camper van? On that first impression, I would agree with you totally, but hear me out.
Seth Rogen is one of the most high profile stoners out there, and if you like his humour, you will love this book. As Seth puts it himself, "Yearbook is a collection of true stories that I desperately hope are just funny at worst, and life-changing amazing at best. I tell way more stories about doing drugs than my mother would like". Rogen's stories centre around growing up; his grandparents, stand up comedy and Jewish Summer camp.
The Simpa Life podcast began in 2020 and was borne out of Simpa's activism work in raising awareness of and trying to end the prohibition of drugs. The Simpa life aims to "inform, educate and entertain through the creation and curation of alternative thought-provoking content and conversations."
The cast is everyone's mum, dad, aunt or uncle who has stood there tutting about cannabis whilst not knowing much about it, and that is precisely why it is such a good watch.
This series offers a fascinating insight into the legal cannabis market in the US, how it works and what it looks like. It shows the prejudices and beliefs that many still hold about
It is eye-opening, relatable and educational. Plus, if you want to watch Pat Butcher smoking with a load of Nuns or Christopher Biggins on a whitey after too many edibles, it is also highly entertaining!
cannabis and shows how (some) of the cast have their minds completely changed on the subject.
Gone to pot-American Road Trip is available for free on ITV Hub or at www.itv.com within the UK.
Every episode features a guest from the cannabis scene, both UK and international. Recent guests include the legend that is "Tommy Chong" and Growing Guru "Urban Remo". If you want to get a bit more clued up on the UK scene and be entertained, then you can't go far wrong with this podcast.
Go to www.thesimpalife.com for more information.
There is also a great selection of stuff about his time in Hollywood and the other famous people he has met. This collection of stories is an absolute howling delight. There are many interesting observations about drugs, coming of age and fame that we can all relate to. I listened to this on audiobook and had to pull the car over several times due to being in fits of laughter.
Available online from all good booksellers.
All cast members, including ex-football star John Fashanu, former pro darts player Bobby George and Eastenders favourite Pam St Clement have their reasons for exploring cannabis, including arthritis, menopause and joint replacements. It is interesting to watch them experience the alleged efficacy of this plant as both a potential medicine and a recreational tool.
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COOKING WITH CANNABIS by Robert B.
HOW TO COOK PROPERLY WITH HEMP SEED OIL AND HEMP RESIN OIL HEATING PRODUCES
CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES First of all, a distinction should be made between hemp seed oil and hemp resin oil. The first is a food product extracted from hemp seeds, which in turn contain no psychoactive substances. In the past, the only psychoactive effects from hemp seed oil were due to seed incrustations that fell into the oil during pressing. By using the right type of hemp grown for fibre or washing the hemp seeds, this no longer occurs. Psychoactive hemp oil with cannabinoids as active ingredients, on the other hand, is obtained from the flower parts close to the seeds. Sinsemilla flowers do not even contain hemp seeds. To be more precise, one should speak about hemp resin oil. The term ‘hemp oil’ leads to a lot of confusion. Many vegetable oils are not suitable for frying or deep-frying because they break down due to the action of heat. Their valuable nutritional properties are partially or completely lost and the heat also favours the production of carcinogenic substances. In addition, each vegetable oil has a specific boiling point. If the wrong vegetable oil is used, the boiling point is lower and if the oil boils, the risk of fire is higher. Just being in the kitchen with boiling vegetable oil can be harmful to the respiratory tract. For this reason, a CBD extract dissolved in vegetable oil should not be smoked or drunk. The inhalation of boiled vegetable oils is not recommended. Essential oils (and other suitable oils) are only recommended for this use. Many components of hemp resin oil also have low boiling points and volatilise quickly. Some terpenes, which are essential components of the smell and taste, volatilise even at high room temperatures. Many consumers first look at the THC content of the oil. This active ingredient, which makes you high, has a boiling point of around 157° Celsius. CBD – preferred by another category of consumers – boils at 160 to 180° Celsius. CBN boils at 185° Celsius and THCV at 220° Celsius. At this maximum temperature
Canna Gusto ‘potent’ recipes – Made by patients for patients.
level, marijuana eventually burns. So even hemp resin oil should not be heated too much. However, most of THC (or CBD) content is present only in precursor form (i.e., THCA and CBDA), which will not have the desired effect in the body. These acids are converted into absorbable active substances by the effect of heat at 80 to 140° Celsius. This process is called ‘decarboxylation’. It is quite possible to heat a starting material for 20 to 120 minutes. With less time of exposure, a higher temperature should be chosen and vice versa. In a burning joint, 2 seconds are enough. This is why heating before actual consumption is very important. However, too much or too long heat can have a
counterproductive effect and break down THC. Those who are after the psychoactive effects of THC should know that it continues to change when exposed to oxygen and no longer has its original effect. Therefore, the starting material should only be heated shortly before consumption and protected from oxygen. For oral intake, it should also be considered that hemp resin oil is not water-soluble, and it is therefore advisable to dissolve it in fats or other carriers. The reason why butter is always used when baking brownies is that it favours the absorption of active ingredients through digestion. It has always been known that hemp seed oil is not suitable for
frying because it does not tolerate high temperatures. That is why, more recently, during the cooking shows at the Cultiva and Cannabis XXL hemp fairs, visitors asked how to cook, fry and bake properly with hemp seed oil. Among the answers that are worth recalling, more or less in the same vein, Danny Wagenfeld said that hemp seed oil in the kitchen should only be used for baking and frying at a low temperature. When making hemp butter, a maximum of 80° Celsius should be considered, otherwise the maximum recommended limit is 140° Celsius. If you do not know how hot the oil is when frying, you should not use hemp seed oil and also avoid wasting it. When baking, however, the temperature can be adjusted very precisely and, therefore, handling
37 person per day to be able to safely exclude a deficiency. Presumably, even a teaspoonful of this valuable nutrient would suffice. Despite their infinitesimally small amount, these omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are significant for health. Those who constantly consume fresh hemp seeds or fresh hemp seed oil are on average less frequently or less severely affected by diseases, and their life expectancy increases. These fatty acids can also positively impact on mental illnesses and thus significantly increase wellbeing. But I will stop there. Further details would go beyond the scope of this article. So far, research has not been comprehensive and, therefore, no exact statements can be made. The negative effects of hemp seed oil are apparently non-existent. It will only do you good, not harm.
Cooking with hemp - hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, hemp flour. hemp seed oil or hemp resin oil safely is no problem at all. However, those who consume THC-rich hemp resin oil in food run the risk of an unpleasant overdose lasting for hours, which drops sooner if the oil is just inhaled. Since the effect of inhaling starts after minutes, and not after 30 or 60 minutes as is the case for food, the dosage can be safer. Due to the contained polyunsaturated fatty acids omega 3 and omega 6 in a ratio of 1 to 3, hemp seeds or hemp seed oil are very healthy. The optimal ratio for human consumption of these omega fatty acids –
containing these fatty acids, which is not good for the already overfished oceans, as the ratio of 1 to 4 is not even close to being reached with many omega-3 and omega-6 supplements. Hemp seeds can be obtained ecologically directly through home growing. Both the seeds and the oil extracted from them are tasty. Everything depends not so much on the quantity but on the regularity and freshness of hemp seed oil. Hemp seeds and hemp seed oil should always come from the harvest of the current or previous year. If you open a bottle, after a few weeks
Candied hemp on salad. to be constantly supplied with food as the human body cannot produce them on its own – is 1 to 4. A deficiency – which would have to be avoided through the regular intake of these acids in the diet – can have negative consequences for health. That is why many people eat fish oil capsules
of exposure to oxygen, this oil will lose its qualities, which will also be destroyed by the effect of light. Therefore, small brown glass bottles or sealed containers are preferable for quick consumption. It is then sufficient to consume about one tablespoon of hemp seed oil per
Hemp seed oil can be used for baking, steaming and salad seasoning. Many people simply eat a spoonful every day. Consuming hemp seed oil pure is only a matter of taste. You can also mix your daily muesli with hemp seeds in a proportion of 1 to 1. Even then, the hemp seed oil will be absorbed by your body.
38 MEXICO MARIJUANA: TOP COURT DECRIMINALISES RECREATIONAL USE OF CANNABIS
Mexico's Supreme Court has decriminalised the private recreational use of cannabis by adults, calling the current prohibition unconstitutional.
the decision "does not decriminalise the activities necessary to carry out consumption" such as possession and transportation.
In an 8-3 decision, the court ruled that adults would be able to apply for permits to cultivate and consume their own cannabis. Smoking in public and in front of children is banned. The ruling does not mention the commercialisation of cannabis.
Mexico's lower house approved a bill legalising the recreational use of cannabis in March, but it still needs final approval by the Senate.
The decision came after a legalisation bill stalled in Congress.
The legislation would let users with a permit carry up to 28g and grow as many as eight plants at home for personal use. At present, it is illegal to carry more than five grams.
"Today is a historic day for liberties," Supreme Court president Arturo Zaldívar said. But some groups said the ruling was unlikely to result in major immediate changes.
Supporters of legalisation hope it could reduce some of the violence related to illegal drugs trade, which claims the lives of thousands of people in the country every year.
Mexico United Against Crime, a nongovernmental organisation, said
Source: BBC.com
INDEX OF ADS Name
Page
Advanced Hydroponics of Holland
7
Jorge Cervantes
35
Amsterdam Seed Center
37
London Seed Centre
1
Atami 13
Paradise Seeds
1
Barney's Farm
39
Paradise Seeds
31
Cyco
19
Sanlight 23
Emerald Harvest
33
seed stockers
1
GE Current
2
Sweet Seeds
40
COLOFON Soft Secrets is published by Discover Publisher BV Galvaniweg 11, 5482 TN Schijndel, Netherlands Telephone: +31-(0)73-5498112 E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl Web: www.softsecrets.com Editor: Cliff Cremer Contributors: Jorge Cervantes, Stoney Tark, Rich Hamilton, Mr. Jose, Green Born Identity (G.B.I.), Betty Green, Olivier F., TricomaTeam, Hortizan and others. Comics: Jim Stewart
ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ: PAGE 16:
1. A 2. D 3. C 4. B 5. A 6. D 7. C 8. A 9. D 10. B
11. A 12. B 13. D 14. C 15. B 16. C 17. A 18. B 19. A 20. D
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.
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