Cool, this is what it's about. The strain is Sensi Star and they are very much ready for harvest. In 43 years growing I believe I know when to harvest by trichome color and sugar levels. Those buds are what we growers dream of, they are the best of the best and the picture really doesn't do them justice, frickin huge and hard as rocks. Beautiful.
Those particular buds were the result of many years work. I would collect 100 clones from the mother and pick the three best for new moms. This was repeated for 25 generations, the best of the best.
SixString, certainly I can't grow every strain in 45 days. The strain will dictate how much time is required to flower. As we move further to the Sativa side the time needed will increase, Most strains fall into the 60/40 percentage of Sativa/Indica mix. A pure Sativa can take as long as 12 weeks to flower and and will shorten as the Indica percentage increases. Somebody asked me how to shorten the time frame, the answer is there isn't much we can do to do that with a couple exceptions. One, hydro will shorten the flowering time a bit as will increasing the level of C02. Having said that however, it isn't going to be a profound difference, mother nature will take as much time as she wants.
It is resonable to alot 8 to 10 weeks for Sativa promonent starins. Cash croppers will lean toward Indica's, twice the yield, half the time. For my use I like Sativa's in the day and Indica's at night so I grow both. I have a large amount of flowering space so I can alot a certain amount for Sativa's but focus primarily on Indica's.
Clone timing is critical. For example, most of my facilitis are designed to produce a harvest per week. This spreads the workload out and ensure a constant supply of fresh medicine. That meens I need to have a supply of clones reay each week too. We do not have down days with equipment, we have 8 harvest a year from each Indica system. If we harvest Monday we have a new crop started Tuesday, so timing your clones is critical. Replacing Mothers at the correct time is just as important.
I begin new clones two weeks before harvest, it doesn't take that long but it lets me know I have viable clones that have developed a substantial root system before going into the hydro system. It also allows for a hardening off period and 36 hours of darkness before being introduced to the flower room. Take your clones from the lowest part of the plant, clones are a copy of your mother and the lower branches are the most mature and therefore will be more stable than higher ones. Cloning machines have become quite popular these days but I think they're a waste of money and can be problematic. A short power outage or screw up with a plug can kill an entire batch. KISS is the best policy, rapid rooters under T5 bulbs will perform just as well. Keep your clones in a cool area, they don't like heat and make sure they are always moist. A mild blend of Olivias in your water will be all you need. I have a 98% success rate with clones and don't waste money on fancy shit that doesn't make any diff. Using a root excellerator when placed in the system will help too.
C02 occurs naturally in the air around 350/400 ppm, however, cannabis likes to have 1400ppm. A C02 sniffer is money well spent. Cannabis takes in C02 from the underside of the leaves and C02 is heavier than air, so have a small fan that pushes the C02 up to the plants and seal your room so it doesn't all leak out. The plant only uses it during light periods so don't waste it in the dark. It will also allow your plants to grow in temps 5 to 10 degrees hotter which is helpful to some.
I maintain room temps at 85degrees and chill my water to 70, this allows me to bring my lights very close, generally 6 inches from the plants. I currently use House and Garden nutes which gives me some benefits. One being the elimination of monitoring my ppms and ec. If you follow directions and drain your system every two weeks you will be perfect and your ec won't have time to build up to dangerous levels. That leaves your Ph which I maintain at 5.9, 5.5 to 6.5 is the range cannabis requires. Outside thoughs numbers your nutes will not be absorbed by the plant.
Pay attention and learn to speak the language of marijuana, stick with stable strains and don't bring outside critters in, my facilities are air tight, non in, non out. Lab coats are worn and no pets or clones from outside sources are allowed in. We don't have mights or white mildew, ever. Be smart and professional and don't listen to people that don't have a lot of grows under their belts, it takes time to get good. I can and do produce the numbers I have stated, if people don't believe it so be it, I do it all the time.
And I change things up and see the results, we achieve amazing results because we are professionals at what we do, and we push the limits all the time. "It's not just a weed" if you believe you can't do it you never will, self fullfilling prophecies. When you believe it, you'll see it, not the other way.
Hope that helps, let me know if I need to expand on anything.
ProfMj
Now we're talking
I have a few questions for the professor, what kind of time frame would you have with a normal or more common strain like ak-47 or white widow with your practices. It sounds like the timing of your cloning is key,will you explain more.And i think there is more to it that we have not heard like maybe your co2 levels, temps, and nute ec or ppm. Not everyone here is busting your balls,we just want to know HOW .peace.