Perpetual Joy

[Nizza]

be careful doing a dark period with no circulation (trash barrel), there may be mold consequences when you come back!

i like the 24-48 hour dark period, but what i like EVEN MORE is just harvesting the top, and letting the bottoms go an extra 1-3 weeks.

you could say you almost end up forcing the plant to go into panic mode and pump out the rest of what it's got.

I do this everytime now, and sometimes even do a 24-48 hour dark cycle on the bottom half before it's harvested. I don't notice much of a difference with taste or anything, just that the bottom half of the weed is usually a lot stronger, and I get more yield that way.

 

[dukeofprunes]

be careful doing a dark period with no circulation (trash barrel), there may be mold consequences when you come back!

i like the 24-48 hour dark period, but what i like EVEN MORE is just harvesting the top, and letting the bottoms go an extra 1-3 weeks.

you could say you almost end up forcing the plant to go into panic mode and pump out the rest of what it's got.

I do this everytime now, and sometimes even do a 24-48 hour dark cycle on the bottom half before it's harvested. I don't notice much of a difference with taste or anything, just that the bottom half of the weed is usually a lot stronger, and I get more yield that way.

Thanks for the response. The grow closet and my room have very low humidity. Mold hasn't been an issue. I've tried cutting the the tops and leaving the bottom for longer. I really didn't see a big difference and it adds considerably to the flower time. It takes up space in the flower tent for a few grams at most and holds up my rotation. I have room in flower tent for 9 plants. Those 1-3 weeks add up over time and I think doing it would actually cost me in yield. I just chop up the bottom buds and add it to my cuttings for bubble hash.

I will not be fimming as much and aim to get only 2 big colas per plant instead of several to allow for a less dense canopy and better light penetration to the bottom nugs.

 

[Nizza]

if you like the idea of 2 big cola's , i hope you've seen this thread! https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/151706-uncle-bens-topping-technique-get.html

also i found side lighting is really important, and will help you if you for some reason just can't get the light down there

 

[dukeofprunes]

if you like the idea of 2 big cola's , i hope you've seen this thread! https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/151706-uncle-bens-topping-technique-get.html

also i found side lighting is really important, and will help you if you for some reason just can't get the light down there

Awesome!!! Thanks!!! Those buds look terrific!!!

I really don't have the space for side lighting in flower tent, but with a less dense canopy light penetration to the bottom should improve

 

[Stevieh]

if you like the idea of 2 big cola's , i hope you've seen this thread! https://www.rollitup.org/advanced-marijuana-cultivation/151706-uncle-bens-topping-technique-get.html

also i found side lighting is really important, and will help you if you for some reason just can't get the light down there

That link has got me, am wanting 4 main colas am doing that on 2 of mine now

Thanks ....

 

[dukeofprunes]

Insanely crazy night! I shut off my 400 w HPS by just pulling the plug instead of using the I/O switch just to let it cool a few minutes and wipe w some glass cleaner. When I plugged it back in, the room shorted and I had to go to the panel and flick the switch back!!! Everything was fine, except for the 400 w HPS. I changed the bulb. Nothing. Used my old wing reflector set up. Nothing. Has to be the ballast, right? I figured that I want to switch to LED's anyway, so just go for it right now. I found a guy on CL selling an HTG 240 W LED for $175. I jumped on it and had it up and running within 2 hours!!! What Luck! The hydro store is closed and rather far away and if I orderd online it would take at least a day. I would have had to move the 125 W CFL into a 4x2x5 veg tent and improvise with my clones; sticking them in random gaps. Boy, was I a lucky SOB!!!

I removed the ducting for the cool tube but still have an exhaust duct and the in-line fan working. Two small fans to circulate air. My only concern is the coverage for this light. I'm thinking 3x2. So i removed a few of the smaller girls and placed them with the clones under a 125 w CFL. The light is 16 inches from the top of the canopy. I am so excited!!

 

[Stevieh]

Insanely crazy night! I shut off my 400 w HPS by just pulling the plug instead of using the I/O switch just to let it cool a few minutes and wipe w some glass cleaner. When I plugged it back in, the room shorted and I had to go to the panel and flick the switch back!!! Everything was fine, except for the 400 w HPS. I changed the bulb. Nothing. Used my old wing reflector set up. Nothing. Has to be the ballast, right? I figured that I want to switch to LED's anyway, so just go for it right now. I found a guy on CL selling an HTG 240 W LED for $175. I jumped on it and had it up and running within 2 hours!!! What Luck! The hydro store is closed and rather far away and if I orderd online it would take at least a day. I would have had to move the 125 W CFL into a 4x2x5 veg tent and improvise with my clones; sticking them in random gaps. Boy, was I a lucky SOB!!!

I removed the ducting for the cool tube but still have an exhaust duct and the in-line fan working. Two small fans to circulate air. My only concern is the coverage for this light. I'm thinking 3x2. So i removed a few of the smaller girls and placed them with the clones under a 125 w CFL. The light is 16 inches from the top of the canopy. I am so excited!!View attachment 2902081 View attachment 2902080

Opps .... On the plug issue ....

Happy days on finding a light

They are looking fine as well ....

 

[dukeofprunes]

It's harvest time! I took my AK48 out from under the trash can. Not a great yield for 5 weeks in veg...but not horrible either. exceptionally dense buds! I cut all the small buds so i can make some bubble hash!

 

[Stevieh]

Nice man......

Looks not bad

 

[dukeofprunes]

Nice man......

Looks not bad

Thanks, Stevieh! The yield on this one is better. I smoked up most of that faraona before I even had a chance to cure it. hahaha. It was still very tasty and I have a few clones of it. The top buds on that AK48 are DENSE!!! As dense as anything I've ever grown. If it is just a small bud on the bottom, I chop it up w the scissors and put it in my bubble bag to make hash!!! I think I'll wait until the next plant is ready and chopped before I make the hash. Next plant up is Aurora Indica...then about 2 weeks for the Van Kush and the Pineapple Kush. The super Silver Haze still needs a while.

 

[Stevieh]

Thanks, Stevieh! The yield on this one is better. I smoked up most of that faraona before I even had a chance to cure it. hahaha. It was still very tasty and I have a few clones of it. The top buds on that AK48 are DENSE!!! As dense as anything I've ever grown. If it is just a small bud on the bottom, I chop it up w the scissors and put it in my bubble bag to make hash!!! I think I'll wait until the next plant is ready and chopped before I make the hash. Next plant up is Aurora Indica...then about 2 weeks for the Van Kush and the Pineapple Kush. The super Silver Haze still needs a while.

Happy days mate, I like how you got them going on at different times, never short of any puff

 

[dukeofprunes]

Thanks Stevieh! Harvesting always makes me smile. Im not happy with my yields, though. I veg for 4-5 weeks, flower nine 18" plants in a 3x3 under a 600W hps and still can't can't get an ounce per plant. This AK will be close, but not great. I figure with some tweaking I can increase the yield. I want to see how this LED works on my vegging plant before I spend a G-note on 2 area51 LEDs to replace my 600 w HPS.

I'm thinking if I top less and have just 2 big tops the light will penetrate better making the lower buds bigger. Also, I was looking at that uncle bens 4 cola technique. Looks awesome but 4 tops will only get so big in a 3 gallon pot. I need to either get bigger pots or more efficient pots that allow better root development in a smaller space. If i get bigger pots I can fit fewer plants in the 3x3 and the yield increase will be more per plant but with fewer plants it won't be SIGNIFICANT progress. Smart pots? Maybe even just get 1 area51 at first and use it WITH my hps?

hmmm

 

[Stevieh]

Thanks Stevieh! Harvesting always makes me smile. Im not happy with my yields, though. I veg for 4-5 weeks, flower nine 18" plants in a 3x3 under a 600W hps and still can't can't get an ounce per plant. This AK will be close, but not great. I figure with some tweaking I can increase the yield. I want to see how this LED works on my vegging plant before I spend a G-note on 2 area51 LEDs to replace my 600 w HPS.

I'm thinking if I top less and have just 2 big tops the light will penetrate better making the lower buds bigger. Also, I was looking at that uncle bens 4 cola technique. Looks awesome but 4 tops will only get so big in a 3 gallon pot. I need to either get bigger pots or more efficient pots that allow better root development in a smaller space. If i get bigger pots I can fit fewer plants in the 3x3 and the yield increase will be more per plant but with fewer plants it won't be SIGNIFICANT progress. Smart pots? Maybe even just get 1 area51 at first and use it WITH my hps?

hmmm

Mate I think you should get bigger pots and do trick to get more colas, theres another link to it on my page I took it and posted it on mine, no you wouldn't mind I put where I had got it ....
That other link really shows good pictures check I out ....
Thats how you are gonna double your yeild you should be getting better with a 600 watt I used a 400 and got 2 oz each plant on my first grow that links on my journal now as well if you want to look I used the fim but I never trained the colas just super cropped so it's not as nice looking as when you traine them to come up equal .... But in the end it's up to you ....

vedge 2 weeks longer and leave the harvest till 8-9 weeks they fill out more right near the end and are a better smoke .... So I hear but that's how long I left mine ...

 

[dukeofprunes]

It's perpetual joy because I'm always harvesting! The yields haven't been great, but I'm confident that with some minor adjustments they will increase.

This aurora indica flowered 66 days. Looks good under the scope. About 30% amber/50% cloudy and 20% clear. I actually did just cut the tops on this one and left the bottom to go another week or so. Just read a good High Times article online that suggests to remove all large fan leaves after 5 weeks of flower to allow for better light penetration. With bigger pots, fewer tops and removing the fan leaves after 5 weeks, I think that's a good start!

This Aurora Indica is the best pheno left from an older order. I've cloned it around 5 times and it is still a vigorous lady. 9 week flower with a few days of darkness after. Now that this is the 3rd plant on my perpetual (I nearly smoked it all already hahaha) I finally have enough cuttings to make some bubble hash. VERY TASTY!!! Not that much, only a 1.5 grams.

 

[dukeofprunes]

A few details on my bubble hash making. I never make much, so i only use the 200 micron and 20 micron screens. I use one bag of ice, agitate w a mixer for 20 minutes, let it drain & settle for 20 minutes. I press it as flat as I can to dry it quickly. I like to smoke it right away!!! My yield i usually about 10%. For half an ounce of trim 1.5 grams of pure hash. Is that good or bad?

 

[dukeofprunes]

My predator mites arrived. I saw a few moving, but they are really tiny. I just emptied the bottle on the plants and will monitor them. They were sent overnight and packed w coolpacks. KILL THEM SPIDERMITES!!!!

 

[dukeofprunes]

Thanks for the response. The grow closet and my room have very low humidity. Mold hasn't been an issue. I've tried cutting the the tops and leaving the bottom for longer. I really didn't see a big difference and it adds considerably to the flower time. It takes up space in the flower tent for a few grams at most and holds up my rotation. I have room in flower tent for 9 plants. Those 1-3 weeks add up over time and I think doing it would actually cost me in yield. I just chop up the bottom buds and add it to my cuttings for bubble hash.

I will not be fimming as much and aim to get only 2 big colas per plant instead of several to allow for a less dense canopy and better light penetration to the bottom nugs.

Nizza, I actually did keep that Aurora Indica in flower and just chopped the tops. The plants had dense buds all the way down just begging for some more light. Gonna harvest it in a few days. Thanks!!! It's always case by case. This particular plant had AMAZINGLY dense undergrowth. I couldn't resist. The bottom buds are getting fatter and frostier.

 

[dukeofprunes]

The vanilla kush and pineapple chunk are on week 6. I removed all the fan leaves. after a a few tugs, i noticed my fingers were sticky so i saved the fan leaves for my next hash harvest. they are definitely hybrid. looking lankier than the Aurora and Faraona. Still, the tent has a sweet aroma. Im just feeding the late flower ladies water w mollasses.

I haven't even had a chance to cure. Im smoking it up and giving it to family. Btween brother, mom n cousin and the small yields I'm practically out! Never was a commercial undertaking, but i need to increase my yields! I have some new lights and smart pots on the horizon. doing some research. Do not want to go over 5 gal.

I've been using this LED for about 2 weeks now in veg and the girls really seem to like it. Less heat and less watering/feeding. The plants are very green and look happy.

 

[Nizza]

Glad you tried that, I think it's totally worth it cause you also get a second, more mature harvest.
When I did this I liked the bottom bugs

 

[dukeofprunes]

Glad you tried that, I think it's totally worth it cause you also get a second, more mature harvest.
When I did this I liked the bottom bugs

The bottom nugs are certainly frostier. I do want to avoid doing this moving forward. I will be removing the fan leaves and topping less with the hope of getting better light penetration to the bottom buds. The chopped plant is taking up precious space that I'd rather use for a plant that is ready to flower, but I'm glad I did it on this plant.

Thanks again