Feminizing Seed Spray - Advice?

[GangaDownUnder]

Update:
I was going to take clones and reverse them but that didnt end up happening. So I've started applying STS to a single branch of three of my six plants. Two applications so far. First was four days ago, next was today, and also switched to 12/12 today. I will now apply every five days until I see male bits. Fingers crossed. I've been applying with a q-tip, thoroughly wetting and covering the stems and nodes, avoiding the leaves (I think I read somewhere that wetting leaves is unnecessary...hopefully its correct. Please let me know ASAP if its not).

I am sort of thinking that I can just keep a close eye on the male parts and cut it a couple of days before they open, pop the branch in a glass of water so it can live for a couple more days allowong it open up at which point I can collect pollen without getting it all throughout the tent. Is that viable?

 

[OldMedUser]

Just a month or so ago I tried cutting off branches I'd been spraying with STS and doing the glass of water thing with them in the bedroom closet and none of them ended up giving me any pollen tho I've done it many times with regular male branches. Each branch was from a different plant so I made windows in paper bags to keep the pollen from mixing. I've also done that many times before with success so was surprised when it didn't work. I should have left the branches on the plants and bagged them up there. Next time.

Never did clean it up so grabbed a pic.

 

[HydroKid239]

30ppm CS works for me. This is my 3rd round with it. I spray twice a day til shit looks weird.

 

[GangaDownUnder]

Just a month or so ago I tried cutting off branches I'd been spraying with STS and doing the glass of water thing with them in the bedroom closet and none of them ended up giving me any pollen tho I've done it many times with regular male branches. Each branch was from a different plant so I made windows in paper bags to keep the pollen from mixing. I've also done that many times before with success so was surprised when it didn't work. I should have left the branches on the plants and bagged them up there. Next time.

Never did clean it up so grabbed a pic.

View attachment 5185295

Okay thanks...thats super helpful.

I think the safe bet is to leave them on the plant and bag them which I'll do. I'd rather risk some pollen getting out into the tent as opposed to not getting any at all.

 

[Spindle818]

Okay thanks...thats super helpful.

I think the safe bet is to leave them on the plant and bag them which I'll do. I'd rather risk some pollen getting out into the tent as opposed to not getting any at all.

I’ve noticed that a lot of times the reversed flowers won’t open and drop the pollen. I have had luck manually opening them over a flower and breaking them up to pollinate. It can be a bitch, but at least I get a few buds with seeds

 

[OldMedUser]

Okay thanks...thats super helpful.

I think the safe bet is to leave them on the plant and bag them which I'll do. I'd rather risk some pollen getting out into the tent as opposed to not getting any at all.

Little risk if you check the bags really well for pinholes. I just stick a small piece of Scotch tape over any holes and use it to seal around the plastic. I try to get some cellophane for the windows so any time we get something in a box with a cellophane window I rip it out and save it for projects like this. The box it came off of goes in the burning barrel.

The paper lets the moisture out and the plastic lets the light in. Cut off any large older fan leaves and maybe some of the smaller ones too. The branches will still get food from the plant so don't need a lot of leaves and it cuts down on the moisture in the bag.

 

[OldMedUser]

I’ve noticed that a lot of times the reversed flowers won’t open and drop the pollen. I have had luck manually opening them over a flower and breaking them up to pollinate. It can be a bitch, but at least I get a few buds with seeds

Right now I'm plucking open 'nanners of an auto reversed with STS. Save them in small containers inside a jar with colour changing drying crystals called Drierite, Blue when dry then pink when moist. Top off the container so it can dry right out. I've been getting pollen blowing around picking them off with fine tweezers but do it at my desk so there's no plants around.



You could just use white rice that you've heated in a 200F oven for a couple hours to bake out some moisture. An inch in the bottom of a jar would dry out a lot of 'nanners. This stuff tells me when I need to bake it but at 400F or more.

 

[GangaDownUnder]

Well, the STS doesn't seem to have worked for me at all.

I first applied it on August 18 to three plants (4 days before flip), then applied it every four days until September 4, after which I applied it every three days until afew days ago. It was eleven applications in just over 4 weeks with no results. The branches I applied it to are pushing out female flowers just like the rest of the plant. No difference. I'm not sure what went wrong. I followed the directions and other tips I found online. I completely doused the stems and nodes each application to the point it was fully wetted and running down the branch. And I increased the strength of the STS (less dilution with water) for the last week.

Could the STS spray I bought be dodgy? I stupidly bought a pre-made Part A + Part B STS Spray from ebay (OzSTS), after which I realised I could buy more silver nitrate and sodium thiosulfate than I'll ever need for less than I paid for the pre-made spray. Yep, I'm an idiot.

Whatever the reason..its a bit annoying. Not the end of the world but it was a waste of money, and I'm going to have to risk one more seed purchase from overseas now. Fantastic! sigh. At least I can get some genetics that a prefer.

 

[GrodanLightfoot]

If you look at many Amazon reviews, it's pretty obvious pot growers are notorious for buying expensive bottled products, removing the product, filling the bottle with some random liquid, and returning it, where it is inspected by a moron warehouse employee and deemed sellable to the next buyer. The same dudes who will break in your house, rip your plants off, then help you drive around looking for clues.

Main reason I'm a dick head, just to remind people that one stoner stereotype isn't true: Most potheads are not nice people behind the tiedye. They are diet methheads for the most part. Not saying that's what's happened, but it's what happened. Unless your plants got no boron. Seen lots of boron deficient breeders claiming their males were sterile. No shit?

 

[xtsho]

Well, the STS doesn't seem to have worked for me at all.

I first applied it on August 18 to three plants (4 days before flip), then applied it every four days until September 4, after which I applied it every three days until afew days ago. It was eleven applications in just over 4 weeks with no results. The branches I applied it to are pushing out female flowers just like the rest of the plant. No difference. I'm not sure what went wrong. I followed the directions and other tips I found online. I completely doused the stems and nodes each application to the point it was fully wetted and running down the branch. And I increased the strength of the STS (less dilution with water) for the last week.

Could the STS spray I bought be dodgy? I stupidly bought a pre-made Part A + Part B STS Spray from ebay (OzSTS), after which I realised I could buy more silver nitrate and sodium thiosulfate than I'll ever need for less than I paid for the pre-made spray. Yep, I'm an idiot.

Whatever the reason..its a bit annoying. Not the end of the world but it was a waste of money, and I'm going to have to risk one more seed purchase from overseas now. Fantastic! sigh. At least I can get some genetics that a prefer.

Yes the premixed spray you bought could be garbage. If you have access to silver nitrate and sodium thiosulfate just get those two chemicals.

If you do it correctly the plant will turn out looking like a natural male and the pollen will drop out on it's own and be easily collected and viable. There should be no female inflorescence development at all.

 

[GangaDownUnder]

If you look at many Amazon reviews, it's pretty obvious pot growers are notorious for buying expensive bottled products, removing the product, filling the bottle with some random liquid, and returning it, where it is inspected by a moron warehouse employee and deemed sellable to the next buyer. The same dudes who will break in your house, rip your plants off, then help you drive around looking for clues.

Main reason I'm a dick head, just to remind people that one stoner stereotype isn't true: Most potheads are not nice people behind the tiedye. They are diet methheads for the most part. Not saying that's what's happened, but it's what happened. Unless your plants got no boron. Seen lots of boron deficient breeders claiming their males were sterile. No shit?

Oh shit I wasn't aware of that. Garbage humans. Not surprised though. I've never really stuffed around with "expesive bottled products" (let alone read amazon reviews (have never bought anything from amazon)) beyond base nutes and calmag...but I don't think thats what you're referring to.

Regarding boron: I also wasnt aware of that. Don't think thats the issue for me though. Plants are beautiful and certainly no sign of boron deficiency. I think I just got stooged.

Yes the premixed spray you bought could be garbage. If you have access to silver nitrate and sodium thiosulfate just get those two chemicals.

If you do it correctly the plant will turn out looking like a natural male and the pollen will drop out on it's own and be easily collected and viable. There should be no female fluorescence development at all.

Yeah seems to be a dodgy premix. I certainly do have access to Silver Nitrate and Sodium Thiosulfate and will 100% be getting them and mixing myself next run.

 

[GangaDownUnder]

Is there any way to test if I got STS or just somethingn else (water?) in an STS bottle?

Does anyone know the PPM of a Part A Silver Nitrate Concentrate or a Part B Sodium Thiosulfate Concentrate?

When reading about mixing my own I seem to remeber it saying that one of the concentrates will stain skin and surfaces blue? I might go dab a bit on a number of things and see what happens?

I mean, it doesn't really matter now but I kind of want to know.

 

[TerryTeacosy]

Does anyone know the PPM of a Part A Silver Nitrate Concentrate or a Part B Sodium Thiosulfate Concentrate?

When reading about mixing my own I seem to remeber it saying that one of the concentrates will stain skin and surfaces blue? I might go dab a bit on a number of things and see what happens?

I mean, it doesn't really matter now but I kind of want to know.

Will knowing the PPM of each solution make a difference to the outcome & why would you need to know, as long as the final result is what you're after? I've tried a 1:5 dilution of the mixed A/B parts & nothing happened, so I'm going to try again with a 1:3 dilution & see what happens.

The staining is caused by the Silver Nitrate solution. I spilt some on a laminated benchtop & the staining was a brown/purple colour (think of a sepia-tone photograph). Best be careful when handling the stuff & put some cling-film down on the work-surface when mixing & handling it. Disposable rubber gloves is also a good idea.

 

[GangaDownUnder]

Will knowing the PPM of each solution make a difference to the outcome & why would you need to know, as long as the final result is what you're after? I've tried a 1:5 dilution of the mixed A/B parts & nothing happened, so I'm going to try again with a 1:3 dilution & see what happens.

The staining is caused by the Silver Nitrate solution. I spilt some on a laminated benchtop & the staining was a brown/purple colour (think of a sepia-tone photograph). Best be careful when handling the stuff & put some cling-film down on the work-surface when mixing & handling it. Disposable rubber gloves is also a good idea.

Ummm:

I mean, it doesn't really matter now but I kind of want to know.

But yes, if I test it and find that ita just water then I will be able to confront the seller and they cant say I just used it wrong.

 

[xtsho]

Is there any way to test if I got STS or just somethingn else (water?) in an STS bottle?

Does anyone know the PPM of a Part A Silver Nitrate Concentrate or a Part B Sodium Thiosulfate Concentrate?

When reading about mixing my own I seem to remeber it saying that one of the concentrates will stain skin and surfaces blue? I might go dab a bit on a number of things and see what happens?

I mean, it doesn't really matter now but I kind of want to know.

Knowing the ppm will not tell you what it is. It takes much more sophisticated equipment to identify what is actually in the solution. Equipment like that will cost you much more than you're willing to spend. Just get the correct chemicals and mix them youself and you'll know what you have.

Good luck.

 

[TerryTeacosy]

Ummm:
But yes, if I test it and find that ita just water then I will be able to confront the seller and they cant say I just used it wrong.

Aha! Now I understand your motivation - good point. Just consider that the Silver Nitrate solution is likely to stain your testing equipment & won't necessarily tell you what is in it.

 

[GangaDownUnder]

Knowing the ppm will not tell you what it is. It takes much more sophisticated equipment to identify what is actually in the solution. Equipment like that will cost you much more than you're willing to spend. Just get the correct chemicals and mix them youself and you'll know what you have.

Good luck.

I dont need to know WHAT is in it, but if there even is anytning in it. Like if it comes back at 50ppm then its clearly not a concentrated solution, right?

But yeah thats what I'm doing. Have already tracked down sources for both Silver Nitrate and Sodoum Thiosulfate Pentahydrate so next time WILL be a success.

Aha! Now I understand your motivation - good point. Just consider that the Silver Nitrate solution is likely to stain your testing equipment & won't necessarily tell you what is in it.

Yeah cool. Will try. Dont need to know how much but just if theres any silver nitrate in there at all.

 

[xtsho]

I dont need to know WHAT is in it, but if there even is anytning in it. Like if it comes back at 50ppm then its clearly not a concentrated solution, right?

But yeah thats what I'm doing. Have already tracked down sources for both Silver Nitrate and Sodoum Thiosulfate Pentahydrate so next time WILL be a success.


Yeah cool. Will try. Dont need to know how much but just if theres any silver nitrate in there at all.

That's all you need. From my experience mixing it yourself has worked every time.

 

[GangaDownUnder]

That's all you need. From my experience mixing it yourself has worked every time.

If you want something done right then you've just got to do it yourself ey.

 

[TerryTeacosy]

I dont need to know WHAT is in it, but if there even is anytning in it. Like if it comes back at 50ppm then its clearly not a concentrated solution, right?

But yeah thats what I'm doing. Have already tracked down sources for both Silver Nitrate and Sodoum Thiosulfate Pentahydrate so next time WILL be a success.


Yeah cool. Will try. Dont need to know how much but just if theres any silver nitrate in there at all.

This may help you somewhat without expensive equipment: