But you had no control group?
No control group.
This was not an experiment but me trying to learn a skill set that a person who has made his living his whole life shared with me.
I don't need a control group to realize that big, full, hard buds have more appeal than popcorn.
Some get a kick from a full zip with 1 cola...kinda speaks for itself and every plant did it even though they are only 20" tall.
I don't need to be very smart to figure out I am gonna have less mold issues if I can move that very wet layer of air just above the growing medium around and out so the lower branches stay dry. I grew roses for years with over 50 varieties in my care at one time and they have mold issues too.
Don't get me wrong if I had the room for trees I would grow trees, big ones outdoors where they could truly develop into their genetic potential. Got some Jack Herer veg'n right now that will get about 3 months of 18/6 before I switch them. It seemed to make since to let them develop as much as possible before flowering if they take that long to flower.
But as far as the GD, It got to it's full height potential, made tasty, appealing and strong bud that people compared to the rare stuff around here selling for $500 a zip. I gotta think mission accomplished with a small grow, see if it scales up as it is supposed to.
I could spend years developing just the right method of growing this strain or I could trust the recipe of an experienced one on how to succeed the first time. It is not the only recipe, just one of many and like anything else the completed product will vary. But as I said here the completed product was very good for a first attempt with an unknown method/strain.
And the best part of it is that it isn't too complicated so most people can handle the skill sets and grow themselves some fine herb they can be proud of.
As a non botanist but grower of many things for many years the process of removing a lesser desirable limb so that another will be stronger and receive more energy makes complete sense. Roses are trained that way, though in no way am I saying like a lollipop. Though I dare say they maybe at times to grow a single or couple of show roses.