Let’s talk about plant size

U

ukdave

Well-Known Member
SpicySativa said:
What’s up, everyone?

I’ve always thought one of the neatest things about cannabis is how incredibly adaptable it is to different growing environments and gardening styles. I can’t think of a single other crop that’s produced in such a variety of different ways…

Anyway, I’m hoping to focus in on just one variable - plant size. Some outdoor growers prefer to grow a few monstrous bushes (i.e. start early), others prefer to grow a larger number of smaller plants (i.e. start late). Obviously both methods work, but I’m curious about the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

Off the top of my head….

- Larger plants and longer growing season could mean more opportunities for pest/disease issues or grower mistakes.

- Some say growing huge plants allows them to reach their “genetic potential”. Do you agree?

- Larger plants obviously yield more herb per plant, and that could be important if your legal situation limits the number of plants you can grow.

What are some other advantages and disadvantages to consider in the small versus large plant debate?

Do you notice any difference in the quality (potency, smell, flavor, etc) of herb that comes from large versus small plants?

Do you grow monsters, small/compact plants, or something in between, and WHY?

Cheers,

~SS
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I only have experience growing Cannabis indoors in grow tents. Over the years as I've gained confidence that I'll achieve a harvest, and having no desire to sell commercially, I've been able to downsize and still meet my needs. Saving space. I'm now growing a Blue Cheese, by Big Buddha, its approx. 2 ft wide and 7.5 maybe 8 inches tall. Its in a 75cmx75cmx120cm grow tent. I use the room for other things so don't want noise or heat build up, this setup allows me to minimise space, have zero smell, with reduced noise, by going through a carbon filter up into the loft through and a 4" inline fan. It is very quiet and energy efficient with no fans inside the tent, an LED to keep temps and electricity bill down, and selective defoliation to prevent mould. I started out growing Lowrider 2 among other autoflowing strains, with budget compost, topped with a few handfuls of farmyard manure, and still say its the best body stone I've experienced. Its a small plant, but to get the effect you can't really be starting out with saturated THC receptors. The Exodus Cheese from Greenhouse seeds can also be grown small, a quality smoke. Whereas stardawg I recently grew keeps my brain alert and busy, and deluded, its a taller plant, so I'm thinking there probably is some truth in smaller plants being more a body high, I've not smoked enough strains to know for sure.
 

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bam0813

bam0813

Well-Known Member
but I’m curious about the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

Off the top of my head….

- Larger plants and longer growing season could mean more opportunities for pest/disease issues or grower mistakes.

- Some say growing huge plants allows them to reach their “genetic potential”. Do you agree?

- Larger plants obviously yield more herb per plant, and that could be important if your legal situation limits the number of plants you can grow.

What are some other advantages and disadvantages to consider in the small versus large plant debate?

Do you notice any difference in the quality (potency, smell, flavor, etc) of herb that comes from large versus small plants?

Do you grow monsters, small/compact plants, or something in between, and WHY?

- even if they go out late, maybe they’re smaller but still flower in mold season, it’s always pest season
-not sure but I guess it shows it’s size potential
-I would say most likely/possibly before obviously imo
- I think it comes down to law and preferences
- no
- I shoot for somewhere in between most times but sometimes I/plant get carried away, idk

make any sense
 
DrOgkush

DrOgkush

Well-Known Member
I can successfully grow a pound in 3 or 4 well trained hip leveled plants. That’s 4 times the watering and feeding. 4 times the training. Added plant count. And 4 times the actual maintenance.
1 large 1 lb plant. I mean The only con
to me would be extra leaves. Heavy waterings. And if she dies. Your out the whole wop.

I prefer large trained girls for a heavy October harvest. And then a lot of smaller ones basically tryin to decide next years grow.

it really is up to the person. Also large to me might be tiny to you guys lol
 
fskitch

fskitch

Well-Known Member
DrOgkush said:
I can successfully grow a pound in 3 or 4 well trained hip leveled plants. That’s 4 times the watering and feeding. 4 times the training. Added plant count. And 4 times the actual maintenance.
1 large 1 lb plant. I mean The only con
to me would be extra leaves. Heavy waterings. And if she dies. Your out the whole wop.

I prefer large trained girls for a heavy October harvest. And then a lot of smaller ones basically tryin to decide next years grow.

it really is up to the person. Also large to me might be tiny to you guys lol
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Agree, but this contradicts post #3.
 
DrOgkush

DrOgkush

Well-Known Member
fskitch said:
Agree, but this contradicts post #3.
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op asked for pros and cons so i re directed my answer to fit his question. Larger plants are more maintenance per Plant. Smaller ones multiply the worked per added plant. Prolly shoulda led with that. Apologies
 
fskitch

fskitch

Well-Known Member
DrOgkush said:
op asked for pros and cons so i re directed my answer to fit his question. Larger plants are more maintenance per Plant. Smaller ones multiply the worked per added plant. Prolly shoulda led with that. Apologies
Click to expand...
got Ya. No need for apologies
 
Apostatize

Apostatize

Well-Known Member
DrOgkush said:
op asked for pros and cons so i re directed my answer to fit his question. Larger plants are more maintenance per Plant. Smaller ones multiply the worked per added plant. Prolly shoulda led with that. Apologies
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green_machine_two9er said:
Just the watts invested steers me towards smaller plants. 2-3 week veg. 9 plants per 5x5 yield 2 lbs every time minimum
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Do you think it's easier to manage bud size on a smaller/medium-sized plant than a large plant; or do large plants (grown/trained right) yield so much that it doesn't matter if ~30+% is popcorn/odd-shaped, unappealing bulk buds? Say you prefer buds that a dispensary would bag in 8ths/qtrs, and that's the only bud size/shape/character you're selecting for ... would plant size be a major factor?
 
DrOgkush

DrOgkush

Well-Known Member
Apostatize said:
Do you think it's easier to manage bud size on a smaller/medium-sized plant than a large plant; or do large plants (grown/trained right) yield so much that it doesn't matter if ~30+% is popcorn/odd-shaped, unappealing bulk buds? Say you prefer buds that a dispensary would bag in 8ths/qtrs, and that's the only bud size/shape/character you're selecting for ... would plant size be a major factor?
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A well trained large plant where less than 10% is larf but still pulling in over a pound of nice clean buds. Vs
4 mid sized plants well trained and cleaned up with less than 10% larf and over a pound of nice clean buds vs
10 small plants pulling 2-3 oz per plant. Well trained and cleaned up and less than 10% larf.

I think saying it out loud makes me think it’s all about the same. That’s if your growing all the same strain.
 
Apostatize

Apostatize

Well-Known Member
DrOgkush said:
A well trained large plant where less than 10% is larf but still pulling in over a pound of nice clean buds. Vs
4 mid sized plants well trained and cleaned up with less than 10% larf and over a pound of nice clean buds vs
10 small plants pulling 2-3 oz per plant. Well trained and cleaned up and less than 10% larf.

I think saying it out loud makes me think it’s all about the same. That’s if your growing all the same strain.
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And is that your experience? Large plants are somewhat intimidating just because there's more to control. Like if you could get 90% from a small/medium plant (as in your examples), I'm not sure the 10% loss would be the same for large plants. Maybe more? But after you have the confidence of seeing it yourself, bigger would be less intimidating.
 
DrOgkush

DrOgkush

Well-Known Member
Apostatize said:
And is that your experience? Large plants are somewhat intimidating just because there's more to control. Like if you could get 90% from a small/medium plant (as in your examples), I'm not sure the 10% loss would be the same for large plants. Maybe more? But after you have the confidence of seeing it yourself, bigger would be less intimidating.
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I was competing the 3 in each senecio. And Not from experience
I grow my large plants always keeping them clean. I don’t wanna grow stuff I’m not smoking. And I add everything else throughout the year. Mid size to flower from root. I find my bigger plants the easiest for myself because I pay much more attention to them from sprout. And those are my heavier yields.
But yes. I minimize my larf to almost nothing because I’m not shy or scared to remove underneath and in between during each week of flower. Makes harvest so much less intimidating
 
Buddernugs

Buddernugs

Well-Known Member
DrOgkush said:
I can successfully grow a pound in 3 or 4 well trained hip leveled plants. That’s 4 times the watering and feeding. 4 times the training. Added plant count. And 4 times the actual maintenance.
1 large 1 lb plant. I mean The only con
to me would be extra leaves. Heavy waterings. And if she dies. Your out the whole wop.

I prefer large trained girls for a heavy October harvest. And then a lot of smaller ones basically tryin to decide next years grow.

it really is up to the person. Also large to me might be tiny to you guys lol
Click to expand...
Yeah what he said, when you lose one of eight plants in a 4 x 8 you’re only out 8-10oz…….. when you lose a giant one it hurts a lot more trust me every plant I’ve ever lost is burned into my brain
 
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