I’ve been growing steadily for the last few years and dabbled on and off since I was a teenager. (Born in the 60’s). I know enough about the basics to make a show of it, and have some knowledge of advanced techniques. But simply speaking, it wouldn’t be far off to say “I don’t know shit.”
I’m learning and rethinking what I’d thought I’d learned nearly every day.
When a single grow takes 4-6 months to complete, and in most places it is illegal, gaining knowledge and understanding, much less having the discipline to maintain best practices is not easy.
Salute to all that have met and exceeded the challenge.
On this special day, I thought it might be interesting to share some of my random “grow-show” thoughts and confessions, right or wrong, with the community here to see reactions and hopefully what will surely be a multitude of more experienced takes on these topics.
Here goes:
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I struggle for time to maintain my plants properly. I find that I take at least an hour and often 3 or more daily maintaining them. I feel guilty when I can’t do it right. So…I feel guilty all the time……
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I usually don’t train unless absolutely necessary and find SCROG to be troublesome while servicing the plant.
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My plant count seems to climb without effort unless I actively (and always reluctantly) say “no.” I hate to kill off a viable plant, but find that trying to give them away is often more trouble than it’s worth. I’ve come to terms with chopping and tossing, but it never feels good.
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Anytime I have given one away, I’m shocked at how quickly that cut or it’s offspring makes the way through local growing communities. I’m always finding folks trying to give me back my own genetics and don’t realize it!
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I top or FIM at least once, but honestly techniques to increase yield are not a top priority. Once you get beyond the simple stuff, I just don’t spare the time. I find I get more than enough for myself and family without going to extremes even with a modest plant count.
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I’ve chased deficiencies and struggle mightily with the whole process of trying to figure out plant problems. I’ve learned how to spot basic issues and can find spider mites in the dark with both my hands tied behind my back, but really, I’ve got so much to learn here.
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I am probably wrong, but I think PH and nutrient issues are not always at the root of most people’s plant problems. I’m becoming convinced that many plant problems, people, newer growers such as myself, try to diagnose as PH or nutrient issues, are actually pestilence or disease. IPM is a core discipline. I’m a believer.
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I still prefer my old-school HPS and MH lamps vs my high-end LEDs. I know LEDs can and do produce excellent results and are way more efficient and I’m trying to find my way into “trusting the modern”, but still lean on and prefer the familiar.
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RH is a problem for me. (<40% under the lights @ 77-81-degrees F) I struggle to maintain a good VPD and find I’m watering every 3-4 days. Humidifiers are big giant PITAs. Keeping them full and clean and ensuring they don’t contribute to negative factors such as mold or mildew is troublesome and I just don’t use them.
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Seed prices online, even for quality genetics from reputable breeders are robbery. Once you’ve completed a seed-run, or you’ve participated in an awesomely generous community such as Overgrow, you understand just how many seeds a single plant will produce. I remember being a bit tweaked at online prices @ $5 a bean. But $10, $15 a bean or more? Wowzers…… How long will that craziness go on?
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I really don’t think the retail cannabis industry can survive in markets that allow legal grows. Pricing will continue to drive the illicit market and undercut retail establishments. I predict we will see a wave of anti-consumer-grow legislation in legal markets as this becomes untenable for the power players.
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Strain names are ridiculously entertaining but I prefer actual genetic lineage over kicky product naming. Too often the same genetics are called by multiple “brand names”
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Strain named for disgusting things don’t intrigue me at all, although I acknowledge there are some foully-named strains that are freaking magnificent.
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Heavy branding and\or celebrity endorsements actually push me away from strains or cannabis products. To me, people and their need for celebrity recognition and ego-fuel are entertaining, but not compelling… In the cannabis industry it just screams (to me) “Sucka!” I’ll take the humble, no name breeder from Tennessee, BC, or Maine any day over some hollywood dude/dudette who thinks they’ve got the ‘in” on the “cannabis market” and that we’ll believe if we just smoke their brand, we’ll be cool too….
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Cloning is stupid easy in most cases. There’s almost literally nothing to it. Sure, you can use hormones, special mediums, and advanced techniques, but one can also jam a broken branch in the ground and in many cases it will simply root.
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Even the shittiest grow can produce decent weed with the right genetics.
