Uncle Ben's Gardening Tweeks and Pointers

Doesn't matter what folks do, matters replicating conditions that are indigenous to the plant's natural environmnent. Anything in the 30-90% RH range is fine, with 90% being at sunrise and 30% being at 5:00 in the afternoon. Lots of factors working here too like the mass and efficiency of the root system.

And Rocket, I have the opposite effect. It is so bone dry around here, especially now, that I couldn't get good growth until I brought in a small tent. I keep that fogged to about 70% and I get the, take off, growth, after 2 weeks of rooting in. With humidity I can get 2 inches a week in growth, and DON"T HAVE TO WATER very often at first. That is the key.

When they are young and tender they need humidity, when they flower as tough bitch weed, they like it to be a bit more dry.

Interesting to me, in my case, I have multiple types of plants all responding in the same manner. As soon as it dries out, they drink and grow like hell. Higher humidity hits, they slow down and don't drink even half as much. The only thing common between all my plants is the way they're planted. Everything I have growing is using a passive wick system, fed from the bottom with no top watering ever. Cilantro, rosemary, thyme, parsley, chive, sage, cannabis- all acting the same way to the humidity levels. Thanks for the replies gentlemen, learning something every day about this indoor stuff, kinda new to me. Been growing outdoors forever, this has been a challenge to this point.

Well, I only top feed, so I am not sure. I get that effect for rooting. Less water = more roots. But, they dry out too fast without humidity....for me. And that results in over watering...for me.

Doer said:

Well, I only top feed, so I am not sure. I get that effect for rooting. Less water = more roots. But, they dry out too fast without humidity....for me. And that results in over watering...for me.

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That's the nice thing I'm finding out about the wick system, I"ve never had an overwatering problem, they just take what they need. I had to set it up this way so I can leave the plants unattended for days at a time.

Yeah, it might be good for that. Not knocking it. I did try it. But, I an a fan of constant lighter feeding, with a dry out in between.

I'm reminded of an old Playboy saying about good oral sex.

If it happens at all, it is good.

If you grow, you grow. All else is talk, you got that right.

Doer said:

If you grow, you grow. All else is talk, you got that right.

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We have a saying in Texas - "all hat and no cattle."

Well Vapor Pressure Differential is going to be about Zero where I am at. Let's try to re-create the wheel and grow better pot.

Uncle Ben said:

We have a saying in Texas - "all hat and no cattle."

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you have more than just a saying, you have the living, breathing embodiment of it.

My hero, G.W. Bush, is not a Yankee. Where are you getting that bullshit? Has a house in Dallas and a ranch near San Antonio.

Uncle Ben said:

My hero, G.W. Bush, is not a Yankee. Where are you getting that bullshit? Has a house in Dallas and a ranch near San Antonio.

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Probably the same place from where you gather the bullshit he's a frick'in hero

Uncle Ben said:

My hero, G.W. Bush, .

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Joke...right?

Thank you Uncle Ben for your "no BS" words of advice, an attribute I respect in a man. It has taken me over of week (several hours at a time) to read through this and several other of your threads plus links... over 4 years worth! I had to give up on the topping thread about 120 posts deep, I had the jist on page 1 but kept picking up knowledge all the way in to the 80s. I think its criminal that you don't have your own area with mod privileges, but its out of my hands and apparently yours.
I really appreciate you hanging in here despite the onslaught of haters and pettiness.

Would you mind weighing in on some questions that I have been unable to answer for myself with any degree of confidence?


The one that is burning hottest at the moment is the hermaphrodite trait. If a plant self pollinates is it a genetic "flaw" and is it any more likely that the seeds will too? What about if the pollen lands on a different (genetic) plant? Are either of these type seeds trash like the cannabis forums suggests? I saw you comment that they are keepers so I would like to know more if you do.
I have four grows under my belt (all indoors) and seeds in the last three. I am certain that I am the cause but I do not know what I'm doing to trigger it, I don't harvest until the plant looks done (trichome color/pistil color & new development rate). I must be somehow causing the plant to "stress" which leads to my next question....

All the information I can find on plant stress deals with root shock, yet people assert that you can "stress" a plant in all manner of ways which either stunt growth or trigger hermies. Light leaks, temperature range/fluctuation, topping, pinching, bending, defoliating. I understand (as a layman) that plants responds to the chemical changes caused by its environment but other than auxin being the key to growth and the light response (pr and pfr) this "stress" thing is a mystery to me. Whats the straight poop?

If you have a few minutes to take a peek at this soil mix, the first page says it all http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/1116550-easy-organic-soil-mix-beginners.html (close to what I'm using) I would like your input on some of the suggested amendments and if you think there is merit to the claims. The GA on these things only covers NPK so the claims of trace micros or pest control aren't exactly a sure thing. Specifically the neem seed meal, crab shell meal, and the kelp meal. I have a feeling I will get a "junk science" response on this one.

Lastly for the day... I know you are a believer in the Cu spray paint for pots but I went another direction. I am using aeration/felt/smart pots as the hype machine claims they encourage branching rather than circling and helps prevent root rot by allowing gas exchange along the pot surface. Any opinion on their merit?

Thanks again for your patience
The Durty

For starts, you're welcome.

Don't know what cause hermies but do know it's typical of equatorial sativas. Nothing wrong with seeded pot. It's just as potent as sensi. I don't get worked up about it but then again I rarely have hermies problems and have grown plenty of sativas indoors and out.

Organic mix looks OK, surprised it doesn't have the word "super" attached. That always gets 'em hooked. But when some one states something silly like this, in the first paragraph no less, that's when I stop reading as he has no credibility with me -

(Miracle gro perlite has chemical fertilizer added and should be avoided)

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There is nothing added to that perlite, and "chemical" is not a dirty word. If the organics didn't contain chemicals, they would be useless. The guys comes across as a poser and a misguided pro-organic nut.

Like many pot forums Grasscity is a joke. Plenty of thievery going on like what they stole from me and then tried to take credit for what I wrote. Then when I raised hell about it they censored me. - http://forum.grasscity.com/indoor-medical-marijuana-growing/215941-never-ending-abuse-phosphorous-enhance-flowering.html

Truth is what's the elemental value. Mix and then send off to a lab to remove all doubt. This is one of the best links regarding container gardening, and certainly not from a pot forum: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg0316064615891.html?14

All root tip pruning methods do the same thing - they induce root branching. It's topping the terminal tip but done underground. I use various methods the latest being bottomless RootBuilder pots which is working out very well with young grafted avocado and citrus trees. They are loaded with fine fruit. Check out RootMaker products, especially for perennials.

Good luck!

Thats a great link right there peeps. Do yourself a favor and read it. Much to learn.....

jointed said:

Thats a great link right there peeps. Do yourself a favor and read it. Much to learn.....

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Yes there is and one that parrots the "standard" NPK values I've preached for years - 9-3-6 aka 3-1-2. Plants need and use very little P. Check out the fertilizer link too -

Tissue analysis of plants will nearly always show NPK to be in the ratio of approximately 10:1.5:7. If we assign N the constant of 100, P and K will range from 13-19 and 45-70 respectively. (I'll try to remember to make a chart showing the relative ratios of all the other 13 essential nutrients that don't come from the air at the end of what I write.) All we need to do is supply nutrients in approximately the same ratio as plants use them, and in adequate amounts to keep them in the adequate to luxury range at all times.

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Will do And I got a favor to ask of you. Say hello to the crew over you know where. Hint hint

Also I'm not a dick. I've only scolded one person and that was because he had 3 threads all asking the same damn questions. I like to play nice without all the BS.

AimAim said:

Well Vapor Pressure Differential is going to be about Zero where I am at. Let's try to re-create the wheel and grow better pot.

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Not sure what that means about re-creating the wheel? So, in your grow environment, there's no vapor pressure differential? Have you noticed any difference in water usage if the humidity levels vary?

Doer said:

He is hero and you are not. You are 5%er. A partisan that thinks more of hollywood actors, because they agree with you.

Nothing at all wrong with any President, ever. A very hard job, to Protect and Defend the Constitution. No rules on that, Enormous but carefully watched Power.

Politics is to make the other side totally wrong. That is impossible.

So, it is all lies and both sides believe it to be real. 5%ers.

As much as 60% of America will poll, not political. And I am a registered independent, so I know the stance of both 5%ers = 10%

With that view, I get another 5% from a better viewpoint. I am a 15%er. Reading the tell all books from the White House insiders, they claim the press only sees 20% MAX.

So, if you have scorn for Bush or Obama, just know that is the dregs at the bottom of a sludge barrel called Politics in the Press.

We all have been tampered with emotionally, very much along the lines, George Orwell, proposed. The language is the key. In-articulation, and low comprehension is slavery Actual. But, it is you, yourself, you whip and beat.

And we see some that will shit in their own mouths. That the weird trick of the super slave Partisan.

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Lmfao, Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood actor. Btw, never said I didn't like him; just that he is hardly a hero. I'm not registered as either Republican, Democrat or anything else thus I'm actually a true Independant voter. I agree with you that the Presidency of the United States is probably a very hard job indeed and probably one that would be a tad easier when its holder actually does "protect and defend" the Constitution. You might try reading it sometime, you'll discover it actually lays the rules out fairly well, lol