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- Rev 4
-
-
- THE GROWER'S GUIDE
- ^NEW
-
-
- by
-
- "K"
-
- This is a grower's guide for those folks who allready know a thing or two
- about growing the dread plant: MARIJUANA.
-
- There are several key factors in growing the optimal or near optimal
- Marijuana plant. These factors can be manipulated to produce different
- physical variations in any seedstock selected.
-
- THEY ARE:
-
- *01* Light Intensity & Spectrum
- *02* Photoperiod
- *03* Temperature Cycle
- *04* Nutrients
- *05* Humidity Cycle
- *06* CO2
- *07* Pruning
- *08* Leeching
- *09* Cloning
- *10* Stress
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- LIGHT *01*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The Light Spectrum should be as close as approximation of natural sunlight
- as is available. The Light Intensity should be as bright as is possible
- while still keeping temperature in line.
-
- There are several kinds of lights that one can use. As far as cost and
- security go, I recommend several vertical fluorescent lights suspended
- around the plants with a pair of sylvania SL-100 bulbs in the center.
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- PHOTOPERIOD *02*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- During the GROWTH PHASE, the light period should be a minimum of 18
- hours. The light can be continuous during the growth
- phase (24 Hours per Day) with profound effects.
-
- During the FLOWERING PHASE, 12 hours of uninterrupted light stimulates
- the production of budding sites for the flowers.
-
- LIGHT CYCLE CHART FOR FLOWERING
-
- DAY HOURS ON HOURS OFF
- x 1 24 0
- x 2 23.5 .5
- x 3 23 1
- x 4 22.5 1.5
- 5 22 2
- 6 21.5 2.5
- 7 21 3
- 8 20.5 3.5
- 9 20 4
- 10 19.5 4.5
- 11 19 5
- 12 18.5 5.5
- 13 18 6
- 14 17.5 6.5
- 15 17 7
- 16 16.5 7.5
- 17 16 8
- 18 15.5 8.5
- 19 15 9
- 20 14.5 9.5
- 21 14 10
- 22 13.5 10.5
- 23 13 11
- 24 12.5 11.5
- 25 12 12
-
-
- I cannot stress enough that during the FLOWERING PHASE, the dark period
- should not be violated by any light. It delays flower development and
- promotes leaf growth. If you must work on the plants during this time,
- allow only as much light as a VERY pale moon can provide for less than
- 5 minutes.
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- TEMPERATURE *03*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The atmospheric temperature should be in the low 70's during the day,
- dropping into the 50's at night. This rule is not absolute, however.
- If you grow clones or selectively bred seedstock in a area that has a
- temperature range larger than this, the plants will mutate over each
- generation to make plants more and more suited to the environment they
- happen to be in. For example, plants can (with trial & error) be grown
- in a closet with temperatures in the 80's and 90's. However, the closer
- you get to the ideal temperature range, the better the buds and the
- less likely you are to get male plants.(see stress)
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- FERTILIZER *04*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Nutrients should be provided with each watering. A good GROWTH PHASE
- mix is 1/4 tsp Peter's 20/20/20 fertilizer per gallon of aged water. During
- the FLOWERING PHASE , Peter's African Violet 12/34/16 fertilizer mixed to the
- same proportion works well.
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- HUMIDITY *05*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The humidity should be kept high (around 90%) unless over watering has
- occurred and the soil needs drying quickly. Marijuana doesn't like its roots
- to be wet all the time, so don't water every day unless the temperature is
- quite high. If proper ventilation is maintained, problems like fungus and
- algae should be minimal.
-
- Average watering solution usage:
-
- 10 days after transplant--------1 Quart (946 ml)
- 20 days after transplant--------1.5 Quarts (1419 ml)
- 30 days after transplant--------2 Quarts (1892 ml)
- During Flowering----------------1.5 Quarts (1419 ml)
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- CO2 *06*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) levels should be high, particularly during the
- FLOWERING PHASE . Growth rates can be increased dramatically if the
- CO2 level is near 700 ppm.
-
- 300 ppm (Outside Air)
- 700 ppm (Ideal)
- 2000 ppm (Plants Burn)
- 5000 ppm (Death)
-
- CO2 is cheaply produced by burning Natural Gas. However, heat and Carbon
- Monoxide must be vented to the outside air. CO2 can be obtained by buying
- or leasing cylinders from local welding supply houses. Beware! The DEA
- has asked the supply houses to provide lists of large CO2 users. If
- you are questioned, simply say "I have an old mig welder at the house
- and I want to try and patch up my (Lawnmower, car, trailer, etc.). If
- you find that you are making lots of trips to the supply house, complain
- that your "buddy" keeps leaving the cylinder valve open all night. This
- should provide a plausible excuse.
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- PRUNING *07*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- To maintain the optimal growth rate, trim all leaves that are greater
- than 4 inches long (not counting the stem). A good rule of thumb is to
- keep the distance (Internodal Length) between the leaves/branches on
- the main stem around 1 inch. The more often you trim, the slower the
- Marijuana plant will grow and the narrower the internodal length. Trimming
- the growth tip after the plant is 4-5 leaf sets tall will produce a "Y"
- shaped plant with two "arms". Too much trimming will result in poor growth
- and often hermaphroditism. Keep puruning to a minimum during the entire
- FLOWERING PHASE. (see stress)
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- LEECHING THE SOIL *08*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From time to time, it is beneficial to leach the soil of high concentrations
- of salts. The salts come from the fertilizer solution by means of
- evaporation. To leach the soil, over water the growing medium until fluid
- can be seen above the soil line. Allow the swampy mess to soak for a few
- minutes, then pump/siphon off excess from the "well" at the lower end of the
- growing area.
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- CLONING (Cutting plantlets) *09*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- After Two Months, any Marijuana plant can be cloned. Cut young growth
- tips from a mature plant that are 5 inches long with a stem diameter
- 1/5-1/10 inch. Cut with a razor blade or X-Acto knife and immerse the cut
- end of the clones into a tub of water mixed with .5 grams Peters 20-20-20
- per quart. Next, cut the bottom .5 inch off the end while it is submerged.
- Remove the clone from the tub and dip into rootone powder and plant 1 inch
- deep in a saturated Jiffy 7 pod/rockwool/oasis block. Place plantlet in
- a small tub with perlite sprinkled on the bottom and .5 inch of the Peter's
- solution when the cutting is in place. Place Tub/Planter in a plastic tent to
- maintain a very high humidity (85-90%). Place 40 watt fluorescent lamp above
- the tent. Make sure that the plants stay wet, but not standing in water by
- checking them twice daily. Leave lamps on for 24 hours a day. After about Two
- Weeks, Rootlets will appear at the bottom of the pods. Transplant at this
- point to growing area, taking care not to disturb any exposed roots.
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- STRESS *10*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Since Marijuana is very responsive to its environment, big changes in any
- of the growth factors (light, heat, food, water, etc.) can affect not only
- the growth of the plant but also potency and even sex.
-
- The whole thing is really a trade-off. If you want bigger, faster growing
- buds, then you should increase stress. However, too much stress will force
- Hermorphrodisim or even a male from a normally female plant.
-
-
- VOTE OR PERISH!
-
- ATTEND CANDIDATES RALLYS AND ASK IF THEY
- SUPPORT LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA. REMEMBER
- THEY ACT ON WHAT THEY THINK NICE FOLKS WANT.
- ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE. IT WORKS.
-
- Send Comments/Corrections to kel.landrith@okinfo.uoknor.edu
-
- This Document is intended for informational purposes only.
- Please feel free to distribute this file far and wide...
-