Uncle Ben's Gardening Tweeks and Pointers

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
Anyways. I was curious about why the bottom of my plants dont flower for shit.
They're the last to show or "go" so most of the plant's "energy" is going to be directed to the top of the plant. I think it's an apical dominance thingie. A feeling, not necessarily a fact. :D If you have retained leaves at the bottom and you harvest the bulky colas, then the auxins are redistributed to what is now considered the apical dominant area of the plant.

Here's some pretty nice nuggets from the bottom of a JH, allowed to bulk up after I harvested the big colas.

 

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DaveCoulier

Well-Known Member
uncle ben, fantastic tips man, thanks a bunch for helpin noobs like us... ive grown before and now second time around im not making a billion mistakes as i did before its really amazing how hardy these little babies are... haha

anyway I want to top/prune the top or bend the plant what do you recomend? I am getting around to the 4th true node now and I wonder wether I should bend or top? cause idont want to waste the little babys potential... im growing just one very healthy guy instead of overcrowding a ton of em like last time... hes got a whole hps 150 to grow... so i want to space him out to soak up all that... what do you recomend topping or bending? (i saw ur 4 top cola technique page)
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
Great point about Apical Dominance. I did a bit of googling and came up with this. It discusses apical dominance, pinching, and how it affects number of floral buds. Maybe you can ask Linda about it the next time you talk to her. Im gonna throw the same question at a research horticulturalist that Ive emailed a couple of times, and see what info he can give me.

http://www.horticultureresearch.net/Growth and flowering response of snapdragons after.pdf
Interesting link!

uncle ben, fantastic tips man, thanks a bunch for helpin noobs like us... ive grown before and now second time around im not making a billion mistakes as i did before its really amazing how hardy these little babies are... haha

anyway I want to top/prune the top or bend the plant what do you recomend? I am getting around to the 4th true node now and I wonder wether I should bend or top? cause idont want to waste the little babys potential... im growing just one very healthy guy instead of overcrowding a ton of em like last time... hes got a whole hps 150 to grow... so i want to space him out to soak up all that... what do you recomend topping or bending? (i saw ur 4 top cola technique page)
I'd top, but that's just me and my preference.
 

sixstring2112

Well-Known Member
A little off topic but i have a question for al after reading the whole thread on topping, is there other things i can use to clean my knife for cloning. I read that you use methylated spirit. I have to say i was almost heartbroken to see your last post in that thread and i'm sure i'm not the only one thats glad to see you back here. thanks for making things simple and keepin it real, peace
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
A little off topic but i have a question for al after reading the whole thread on topping, is there other things i can use to clean my knife for cloning. I read that you use methylated spirit. I have to say i was almost heartbroken to see your last post in that thread and i'm sure i'm not the only one thats glad to see you back here. thanks for making things simple and keepin it real, peace
You should be use a rooting agent that contains a fungicide, like Rootone-F. If you're worried about diseases on your knife (which is really a far reach) then alcohol, Lysol or Pine Sol dilutions work well.
 

DaveCoulier

Well-Known Member
Im glad Ive got a couple of Sativas in my tent. If it weren't for them in there, Id be doing a single harvest, and moving onto my next grow. Those sativas should give me at least 2 weeks to fatten up the lower nugs.
 

jjfoo

Active Member
yep, I just read from someone that they don't consider a grow 'organic' unless they use *mineral* water from a bottle because the *minerals* in tap water don't meet their criteria.

Thought this was funny.

I suggest they should go all the way and not use H2O at all, if they don't want inorganic chemicals in their grow.
 

DaveCoulier

Well-Known Member
yep, I just read from someone that they don't consider a grow 'organic' unless they use *mineral* water from a bottle because the *minerals* in tap water don't meet their criteria.

Thought this was funny.

I suggest they should go all the way and not use H2O at all, if they don't want inorganic chemicals in their grow.
Wow, now thats taking it to an extreme. Some people are completely brain-dead :)
 

Dr. Indica

Active Member
Wow, now thats taking it to an extreme. Some people are completely brain-dead :)
I can see why they might consider that, I use store bought water....why, because chlorine and fluoride would kill the organic life I use, and my tap water has a pH of 9.4. Can't use tap water and microbial life. But, not considering a grow not organic b/c of water quality is a little crazy.
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
I can see why they might consider that, I use store bought water....why, because chlorine and fluoride would kill the organic life I use, and my tap water has a pH of 9.4. Can't use tap water and microbial life. But, not considering a grow not organic b/c of water quality is a little crazy.
Never had a problem with organic grows using chlorinated water straight out of the tap, and I was located at the beginning of a water system distribution run where Cl levels are very high. IOW, they have to be high cause after 50 miles of networking the Cl levels fall off.

Your water has a pH of 9.4? Are you sure? Is your water supply naturally filtered thru an underground limestone aquifer?

UB
 

notoriousb

Well-Known Member
Never had a problem with organic grows using chlorinated water straight out of the tap, and I was located at the beginning of a water system distribution run where Cl levels are very high. IOW, they have to be high cause after 50 miles of networking the Cl levels fall off.

Your water has a pH of 9.4? Are you sure? Is your water supply naturally filtered thru an underground limestone aquifer?

UB
I know this is a lot to ask, but could you check out the water report of my area?I'm sure my water's ok because most of it is snow run off then treated at the loma rica treatment center. but idk if there's anything I could be adding or filtering to help specifically for growing mj :joint:

http://www.nid.dst.ca.us/documents/general/Annual Water Quality Report 2006.pdf
 

Dr. Indica

Active Member
Never had a problem with organic grows using chlorinated water straight out of the tap, and I was located at the beginning of a water system distribution run where Cl levels are very high. IOW, they have to be high cause after 50 miles of networking the Cl levels fall off.

Your water has a pH of 9.4? Are you sure? Is your water supply naturally filtered thru an underground limestone aquifer?

UB
Yes it does come from a aquifer, whole state does here.....and yes I'm sure about the pH, just got my new hanna pen the other day. Calibrated it, and checked my tap water......then almost fainted. I don't have a tds meter yet, but I'm curious what that will come up as. I buy my water and it seems to work much better for me.

I wasn't trying to say that chlorinated water would cause a problem with a organic grow, but to the best of my knowledge if you are using mycorrhizae or something along those lines to speed the break down of your organic materials it will kill them. Most if not all the bottles I have seen have it in all caps writing. DO NOT USE WITH CHLORINATED WATER.
 

Uncle Ben

Well-Known Member
I know this is a lot to ask, but could you check out the water report of my area?I'm sure my water's ok because most of it is snow run off then treated at the loma rica treatment center. but idk if there's anything I could be adding or filtering to help specifically for growing mj :joint:

http://www.nid.dst.ca.us/documents/general/Annual%20Water%20Quality%20Report%202006.pdf
I'd say your water quality is excellent for drinking and plants. A neutral pH (7.1), very soft with low alkalinity and hardness values, very low bicarbs.

Consider yourself lucky......
 
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