IMGS Ep. 164: Tropic Heat

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Show Notes:  Welcome to Ep.164.  Thank you for hanging out, haven’t been around for the past couple of weeks because we were getting the Green Coast Radio ready for the beta test.  We tested the station this last week and I want to thank all the testers who took time to listen and send in feedback.  I also want to thank Rafael Garcia for having his show Cannabis Hispano on the station.  Our plan is to launch the station for everyone on Friday Oct 8th.  Green Coast Radio is an online radio station that is a mix of cannabis conversations and music. Our plan is to find great cannabis conversations and bring them to you as featured content.  As of right now we will have the In My Grow Show and Cannabis Hispano on, I don’t have a day scheduled yet for either one, we have an hour set but not a day.  The music will be a mix of genres, most times you’ll hear a reggae, blues, classic rock, motown and rock en espanol song all in the same hour of music.    

Strain of the Week:  Tropic Heat 20% THC . The internet says it is a cross of the classic OG Kush Breath X Purple Punch.  It has this sweet ripe mango and berries, like cherries aroma.   The taste is the same except for a little extra earthy, sour flavor at the end of the exhale.  This was a great daytime smoke for me, it didn’t zap the energy level and the focus didn’t fade.  I was more introspective, it made me feel more aware of myself.  The Tropic Heat is an Indica dominant variety but it felt like a Sativa to me.   

Report from the cannabis front line: 

California expunged more cannabis offenses https://businessofcannabis.com/2021/09/28/criminal-policy-reform-accelerates-in-2021/?mc_cid=b2129071f7&mc_eid=aaaef53264

South Africa https://www.cannabiz-africa.com/rastas-capture-north-west-province-thanks-them-and-calls-for-full-legalization/?mc_cid=b2129071f7&mc_eid=aaaef53264

Oregon mix up https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2021/09/cannabis-manufacturer-select-mixed-up-thc-and-cbd-products-oregon-says-and-thats-why-unsuspecting-consumers-got-high.html

Lawsuit for mixup https://katu.com/news/local/man-sues-company-behind-cbd-tincture-recalled-in-oregon-for-containing-thc

Delta-9 pop rocks https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/delta-9-delta-8-thc-marijuana-hemp-1231832/  This makes me wonder how legal cannabis companies feel about hemp delta-9?

Listen to Green Coast Radio at greencoastradio.com

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Music:

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IMGS Ep. 163: Cannabis Photographer Spacement Grown.

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https://inmygrowshow.libsyn.com/ep-163-cannabis-photographer-spacement-grown

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Support the show – Go to Patreon.com/inmygrow and donate $1.00 to help keep the show going.  Check out our new shirts:
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Show Notes:   Welcome to Ep. 162.  A little later I’ll talk with cannabis photographer Spacement Grown.  I hope your cannabis gardens are looking great.  I yanked the male volunteer, he started dropping pollen Mon or Tue and I let it go until Sat.  I only want some of female to make seeds, I didn’t want the whole plant pollinated.  Nature is amazing, both plants were ready to do their part at about the same time.  The female pushed out stigmas to capture pollen just as the male started to release pollen.  It looks like some pollination happened because some of the stigmas (hairs) had turned orange, which is a sign of pollination.  We’ll find out in about 8 weeks.  So Chief Salinas got back to me about smoking cannabis where tobacco smoking is allowed, the way NYS does.  Chief Salinas links: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=11362.3.&lawCode=HSC 

Strain of the Week:  Flo White: It is a cross of DJ Short’s classic strain “Flo” with “The White #7”.  As far as smell and taste go, it has a lot going on,it’s got quit the bouquet. There is a hint of sage mixed in with wet dirt and lemon or Orange/citrus.  At the end of the exhale you get a spice or peppery taste.  This did come in 24% and was a daytime smoke for me.  This was a great value, the ⅛ was $20 from House brands.

Report from the cannabis front line: 
South Dekota https://norml.org/blog/2021/09/08/south-dakota-lawmakers-seek-to-repeal-vote-permitting-home-cultivation-of-medical-cannabis/?mc_cid=4b901e79b6&mc_eid=cdb017092f 
Hmong water rights https://cannabis.wiki/politics/judge-county-can-t-ban-water-delivery-to-hmong-pot-farmers 

Conversations with:  Cannabis photographer Spacement Grown joins me on today’s show.

Big thanks to: All the artist for letting me use their music.
 
“In My Grow Show – Grow Learn Teach” T-shirts are here for you.  to check it out.  CLICK HERE check it out. 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the youtube channel youtube.com/inmygrowshow

Support the show – Go to Patreon.com/inmygrow and donate $1.00 to help keep the show going.

Go to inmygrow.com to SUBSCRIBE to the show or find us on the Stitcher app.
Email us at inmygrow@gmail.com
Find us on Instagram @inmygrow 
Click here to go to 101cbd.org
Go to DeltaLeafLabs.com to order your “Plant DNA Sex Testing Kits”
Click Here for the Amazon link to help support the show.

“What do you mean I have to dry and cure the cannabis I just harvested?”

by Alex Robles

     In case no one told you, that beautiful looking, smellie cannabis bud that you just harvested won’t be ready to smoke for at least 3 more weeks.  A proper drying and curing of your flower will help lock in those aromas and flavors that we love about this beautiful plant.   It’s almost impossible to light and enjoy freshly harvested cannabis buds because they still have too much moisture.  If you do manage to get that wet weed lit and not turn it into a figure from Pompaii, the high amount of chlorophyll that’s still in it is going to give that bud a grass or hay taste.  The chlorophyll is also going to give you a harsh burning acidic feeling at the back of your throat when you inhale, it’s not enjoyable or tastey.  Drying and curing have a similar effect on cannabis but are not the same and shouldn’t be rushed. 

Drying

    The drying time will help pull a majority of the moisture that’s in the bud to the top layers of the flower so it can evaporate away.  The rest of moisture that’s deep in the bud will be slowly drawn out in the curing process.  As always with all things cannabis, timing is everything.  The dry shouldn’t be too fast or you run the risk of locking in a lot of chlorophyll.  If the drying time is too long you run the risk of the bud developing mold.  The drying process usually takes about 7 to 10 days depending on air flow, humidity and temperature.  The best combination of temperature and humidity that works for me is 70 F at 54%-55% humidity. 

    If I’m drying a small batch of cannabis, 3 plants or less, 2-3ft tall.  A hall closet is the perfect size and it’s temperature controlled.  Remember to take out any clothes that are in there or they will smell like your bud.  If you store paint or cleaning supplies in that closet, remove them also.  The fumes will tanit the flavor of your cannabis.  I’ll also put a small fan in there to circulate the air and I’ll open the door a few times a day to refresh and exchange the air.

     I typically hang the whole plant upside down on some hangers to dry, this seems to give me a more even drying.  Before I hang her up I trim off as many leaves as I can to cut down on the amount of chlorophyll that the bud has to get rid of.  Circular mesh drying racks work pretty well too.  You just have to remember to rotate the buds at least once a day so they don’t get a flat spot on them.               

     After 3 days I’ll start bending the branches to test to see how the drying is going.  If the branches snap off, the buds are ready for their final trim.  If the branches don’t snap, I leave them up drying a little longer, while checking them daily.  Don’t be surprised if drying takes upto 10 days.  Once the drying is over, your cannabis bud is ready for the curing process.

Curing

     The curing process should take at least 2 weeks in order to get a good flavor and high out of your flower.  Some growers do a 4 or 6 week cure, sometimes longer, to get that really stellar taste and high.  The cure is going to let you do two things.  First it’s going to pull the rest of moisture that’s still deep in the middle of the bud to the surface so it can evaporate away.  You don’t want to store cannabis for a long time if it’s still moist because it will mold.  The second thing the cure is going to do is give aerobic bacteria time to digest and break down any leftover chlorophyll metabolites that could give your smoke a harsh throat burning taste.  Think of it this way, curing our cannabis helps us to control the loss of moisture so we can preserve the true flavors and aromas of that cannabis variety.   

     Before I start the cure I give the dry buds a final trimming.  I make sure to trim off the leaves I might have missed during the first trim.  When I start the curing process I’ll cut the dried buds off the large stems and branches into glass mason jars.  I make sure not to pack or force the buds into the jars because this could break off trichome heads.  I suggest using glass, ceramic, wood or metal airtight, light proof containers to cure and store your cannabis.  Store any clear glass jars of cannabis in a dark space, light degrades trichomes faster.  I don’t recommend using plastic containers because they could have micro pores and allow unwanted air or moisture in.  Also some of the oils and alcohol based terpenes in the trichomes could react with the chemicals in the plastic. 

     During the curing process, you’re going to want to open your jars at least twice a day for 15 min at a time.  This is called “burping” and it helps ensure that the moisture that is escaping from the bud won’t build up in the container, condense and cause mold.  The moisture escaping is also the reason why a day or two after you first start the curing process, the buds feel more moist and supple than they did when you first jared them up. 

  The perfect humidity range for curing cannabis is between 55-65%.  I use a product known as humidity packs to keep the humidity where I want it in the jar.  These little packages respond to any humidity inside a container by adding or absorbing moisture as needed to maintain the relative humidity (RH) level that’s marked on the package.  I get the 62% RH 2 way humidity control packs and they’ll last 2-4 months depending on conditions.

    Most cannabis varieties will give you an ok flavor and high after 2 week of burping and curing.   But usually I like to do a 4 week cure on most of my flower.  Some growers like to take 6 to 8 weeks, while others will take months.  Your cure time should be the one that gives YOU a quality experience.  Once your flower is adequately cured, you should be able to store it in an airtight, light proof container for a long time with very little degradation.  

     Congratulations, you just cultivated and processed your first cannabis harvest.  It always feels good when you roll the joint from your flower.

    In the next section I’ll talk a bit about how I make canna-butter and share a few of my favorite recipes. Enjoy your smoke.    

Finally, your cannabis plant is starting to flower.

by Alex Robles

    Do you feel that?  The seasons are changing, the nights are getting longer and cooler.   The days are getting shorter and our cannabis plant senses that fall is here and  the end is near. This change in the photo period/light cycle is what’s going to trigger our cannabis plants’ flowering cycle outdoors.  The plant is going to start to go through some amazing changes and we’re going to need to adjust some things to support her.  In this next section of the home grow series, I’m going to talk about the cannabis flowering stage and harvest time.  

     In order to make a long story short, I’m going to use the example of a cannabis plant that is grown outdoors and ready to harvest 10 weeks after it starts the flowering stage.   ALL REPUTABLE seed banks will give this flowering timeline in the description of the seed you want to buy.  Also, please understand that everyone’s growing conditions are different.  That 10 week flowering time is an average of what the breeder has seen, it may take a little longer for you, don’t freak out.    

Sexing our plant 

     A well trained eye can spot signs of pre-flower on a cannabis plant by the middle of the vegetative stage.  If you want your cannabis plant to naturally show you its sex, you’re going to wait until it’s flowering stage starts.  So before we get too far into when flowering starts, let’s talk about sexing our plants. 

   “Sexing” our cannabis plant simply means we’re going to figure out if our plant is female or a male before the flowering stage begins.  The earlier we know the sex, the more time and money it’s going to save us.  We spend our time caring for the plant and our money on soil, nutrients and water during its lifecycle.  It always hurts when a plant that you’ve cared for all season turns out to be a male and you have to chop him down.  Remember, what we’re looking for is that high value unpollinated (sinsemilla) female plant.  She’s the one that’s going to make all those trichomes or oil glands (Capitate-stalked glands) in a much higher concentration than the male plant.  Remember, when the female gets pollinated, she’s going to use most of her energy to make a seed instead of making trichomes.  This is going to make your harvest less potent but you’ll have seeds for your next grow (silver lining).  With that said, I want to quickly talk about two different ways that I’ve sexed my plants. 

     The fastest way I’ve sexed a cannabis plant is to send a small genetic sample to a testing lab that specializes in this type of plant test.  These labs can test a sample from a seedling and tell me if it’s a boy or a girl.  Just be aware that there is a small cost that comes with this type of lab work.

     Another way I’ve sex a cannabis plant that’s a little more technical and involves making a clone.  For more details about cloning, please visit Inmygrow.com.  In the search window type in the word “Easy way to sex a cannabis plant” for more details about this process.  

The beginning of flowering

      The first two week of flowering are known as a transitional period.  Since the plant thinks that winter is on it’s way, it will start to hormonally change.  A lot of cannabis varieties will go through what’s known as a “pre-flower stretch” and could double in height.  The plants will also look fuller or fluffier, so don’t forget to give your plants enough room to stretch out.  The plant is basically bulking up in order to support the flowers it’s about to start making.  This “stretch” is natural, as long as the plant has enough light and  looks healthy, without any signs of stress or deficiency.   She’s doing exactly what she should be doing at this stage, great job, keep doing what you’ve been doing.  You’re not going to need to change anything until you see actual signs of flowering.  

    NOTE:  There are some really great cannabis grow books and authors that have mislabeled some of the cannabis flower structures.  Please visit “ The Cannabis Female Flower “ by Mel Frank (https://beyondthc.com/the-cannabis-female-flower/).  He does a masterful job describing these structures and there’s an amazing photo that goes along with it.     

Weeks 3-4

Female cannabis flower stigmas

     After that transition period you’ll start to see the first signs of sex organs begin to grow (week 3-4).  The female cannabis will start to push out thin, whispy white hairs called “Stigmas” (mislabeled as pistils).  These hairs are there to capture male cannabis pollen so they can start to make a seed.  The Stigmas grow in the spot where the leafstalk meets the stock, stem or branch and this is where the buds (flower) will begin to build up.  Each of the buds are made up of a cluster of small flowers called “Raceme”.    

             Male Cannabis Pollen Sacks   

     A male cannabis plant will develop pollen sacks that start their lives looking like tiny hops seed cones.  Soon they’ll multiply and start to look like a cluster of grapes.  The males will usually be taller and flower about 2 weeks before the female.  They do this so they can be above the female and ready to drop pollen when the female starts to develop those Stigmas.  Since we don’t want pollinated females, we remove the male as soon as we see any signs of pollen sacks.

Nutrients & Water

     As the seasons change and cooler temperatures move in you may need to water less.  Check your soil before you water just to make sure they need it.  If your cannabis plant look wilted and is drooping, It may need water.  If the plant just looks droopy, you might be over watering.  

     If I’m using bottled nutrients, I’ll check the manufacturer’s recommendation for flowering and then cut it in half for the first week.   I do this to make sure it’s not too strong and possibly burn the plant.  If I’m top dressing soil amendments I’ll look for one that has a 2-8-8 NPK.  Whichever way you feed your plant, keep a close eye on her for deficiencies, some varieties of cannabis get hungrier when flowering starts and are known as” heavy feeders”.  On the flip side of that, keep an eye out for “nutrient burn” (too much nutrients) because other varieties won’t need as much nutrient to keep them looking great.  Here are some quick notes about the macronutrients.  Remember to cut out all nutrient feedings the two weeks before harvest and give them water.   

•  Nitrogen (N) –  The cannabis plant in flower uses less nitrogen since there isn’t a lot of vigorous growth happening.  The plant is growing flowers but it’s not building too many new branches, leaves and roots.  At this point the nitrogen is mostly being used for things like making chlorophyll for photosynthesis.  So don’t forget to dial back the Nitrogen when flowering starts.  
• Phosphorus (P) is primary nutrient that is used in large amounts during the cannabis plants life cycle and is known as a mobile element.  It’s needed in photosynthesis because it helps the plant change the energy it gets from the sun into sugars.  These sugars will make the different chemical compounds used in root, leaf and stem growth, but it’s a vital part of dense bud development during flowering.    Phosphorus will also help the plant cope with the stress of drought, frost, pests, and disease easier.
• Potassium (K) is another vital primary nutrient that a healthy cannabis plant will use throughout its lifecycle and is also essential for photosynthesis (the building of sugars).  It lets the plant metabolize (chemical digestion) those carbohydrates (sugars) to make different proteins and amino acids that are used in different plant processes.  Potassium helps carry water throughout the plant and this allows it to be less stressed during dry periods and improves the plants resistance against frost by working in the plants sap.  It will promote consistent, even and strong growth and when combined with Phosphorus it will also help strengthen the root system.   Potassium is needed during flowering to increase the density, weight and number of buds.

The Trichomes

     The trichomes are the oil filled glands that grow on the surface of the buds/flower and lower smaller leaves (sugar leaves).  These trichomes are where the cannabinoids like THC and CBD are made and housed.  This is also where the terpenes are made, which give cannabis it’s aroma and flavor.  The burning of the trichomes is what is giving us the euphoric effects of cannabis, NOT the bud/flower.  The bud only exists to give the trichomes a place to grow, that’s why we want to encourage big healthy bud growth. The bigger the bud, the more surface area for trichomes to grow which leads to a more potent harvest.  If you want more information about the anatomy of the “Trichomes” please visit the article I mentioned that was written by Mel Frank (https://beyondthc.com/the-cannabis-female-flower/).      

Warning Signs

     It’s normal to see a few yellowing or dead leaves at the bottom of our plants.  Since those leaves aren’t producing a lot of energy because they get too much shade.  The plant senses them as dead weight and will let them die.  Once again, this is NORMAL,  it is NOT normal to see yellowing or drooping leaves this early.  That leaf death is usually seen at the end of week 7 or beginning of week 8.  Most likely it’s a sign of a deficiency or disease, whatever it is you need to move fast because it could affect your harvest.

The likely causes:     

• PH – If your water PH is lower than 5.5 or higher than 7 it could be causing nutrients to be locked out or not absorbed.
• Nutrient Deficiency –  Check your feed dosages if you’re feeding your plant bottled nutrients, you could be under or over feeding them.  If you’re using a “Super Soil” or enriched soil mix in a container, it could be depleted.  I use a liquid fish emulsion with kelp and molasses at half to a quarter strength.  The idea is to keep my plants well fed for the next couple of weeks without having nutrient build up just before the flush.  Different nutrients will show different symptoms of deficiency, so it’s a good idea to learn what they look like.   
• Pest – Check your plant daily if you can, for any signs of pest pressure.  For example, chewed leaves or brown spots are some signs of caterpillars.  A small cluster of fine webbing could be signs of spider mites moving in to infest your cannabis flower.  .       

Pest control during the flowering stage

    Our plants are under constant attack by pests but as they move into flowering we’re going to have to pivot a little bit when we’re planning our IPM (integrated pest management).  During this stage I rely less on foliar sprays and more on biological predators to spearhead my IPM.  Here are a few reasons why:

• Foliar Sprays – I don’t recommend using any kind of foliar spray during flowering.  It doesn’t matter if it’s for pest/pathogen control or supplemental nutrient feeding.  DON”T do it, you run the risk of introducing moisture into the bud and causing fungus to grow in that bud.  Which makes it smokable because you should NEVER SMOKE cannabis with fungus on it.  The trichomes and bud will also take on the taste of whatever you sprayed which could make your bud taste bad.   
• Biological Predators – The two predators that I use for pest control when my cannabis plants are in flower are the Green Lacewings Larvae and Trichogramma Wasp.  The Green Lacewing Larvae is a great general predator that will actively hunt a large variety of softbody pests like the two spotted spider mite and boring mites.  The Trichogramma is a tiny parasitic wasp that helps control moth eggs that develop into damaging caterpillars.  These predators help break up the moth’s life cycle by laying its eggs inside the moth egg and preventing the moth egg from hatching into a caterpillar.  I also use nematodes to help control any soil dwelling pest also.    

Week 5-6

     By the time your cannabis plant is in week 5 of flower, it will start to look fuller, with a lot of  white hairs popping up everywhere indicating new bud growth.  When the plant gets thick or full looking, air circulation through the plant is important.  It helps the plant to breath and it helps moisture evaporate.  A lot of times as the plant grows, the big fan leaves will overlap each other in a thatching pattern.  This overlapping can cause moisture to hang out on the leaf surface longer and allow pathogens like powdery mildew to take hold.  If I notice 2 leaves overlapping more than a quarter of the leaf size, I’ll remove one of them.  You have to be careful not to take off too many leaves, the plants not making too many new ones and she still needs them for photosynthesis.  

     When your plant gets into week 6, there’s no denying it, she is in full flower mode.  The buds will look bigger and she’s going to start giving off a beautiful aroma.  You’ll notice a few of the older stigmas that used to be white, have turned an orange or brown color and may have shrunken back a little.  All of that is a normal part of the flowering/maturing process.  Sometimes at this point also buds could get too heavy for it’s branch and needs to be supported with a bamboo stake.  It sucks when a bud breaks the branch it’s on and isn’t able to fully mature.  It’s normal for the buds to put on noticeable hefft daily and look plump.           

Week 7

      If everything is going as planned by week 7 and 8 are the home stretch.  The cannabis plant looks green and healthy.  It’s been using almost all of its energy to build flowers and synthesize cannabinoids and terpenes.  She more than likely has taken on that classic “Christmas Tree” shape with buds looking like beautiful ornaments.  Plus the aroma of all those buds is bliss to a grower.   

Week 8 and the “Flush”

     The two weeks before a harvest is always an active time for the cannabis plant.  This is when I’m going to stop feeding her any nutrients and start the “Flush” by just giving her a lot of water. This “Flush” helps break up the nutrients and salts that may have built up in the soil or on the roots.  This will help your bud have a more honest, pure cannabis taste.  Otherwise, that flower could have a bit of a harsh, chemical taste when you smoke it.

    When I flush a plant, I want to water the plant until you see a lot of runoff coming from the bottom of the container.  I like to see the amount of runoff equal to the size of the container.   If I’m flushing a 3gal pot, I want to see about 3 gal of runoff.  For the next two weeks I’ll water her as needed and about 1gal of runoff is what I’m looking for.   

     The other thing I’m going to start to do two weeks before harvest is look at the trichomes everyday for signs of ripeness.         

Trichome Ripeness…It’s all about timing

     Some growers will judge the ripeness of a cannabis plant by the amount of stigmas that have turned from white to orange or brown color, I don’t.  I use a jeweler’s loupe or a magnifying glass to take a closer look at them.  As the trichomes ripen and mature they change color from clear/transparent (unripe), to milky/cloudy (ripe) to amber (over-ripe).  The tricky part is knowing the right time to harvest a plant.  I also have to remember that the trichomes will keep ripening after I cut her down and start the drying and curing process which should take at least three weeks.  If you want a more energetic high, harvest a little early, when the buds have more milky trichomes.  If you’re a fan of that classic couchlock feeling, you want to harvest a little later, when you have more amber trichomes.   

     A good rule that works for me when it’s harvest time is this: When I see about 30% amber trichomes, it’s time to cut her down and put her up to dry. 

NOTE:  Don’t forget, everyone’s growing conditions are different.  That 10 week flowering time is an average of what the breeder has seen, it may be sooner or take a little longer.

Week 9-10

     By week 9 that female is fattening up the buds, the trichomes are ripening and she’s smelling up the yard.  She knows the end is near and you’ll start to notice more yellowing, dying leaves, don’t panic, this is natural.  You’re doing great, she looks awesome, just keep her hydrated and pest free.  You may need to help support the branches that start to sag or buckle under the weight, I like to use bamboo stakes for this.  Week 9 is also when you should start to think about where you’re going to hang up this cannabis flower to dry after you cut her down.  For a first time home grower, the best spot to dry a small batch of cannabis is a closet in their home.  It’s temperature controlled and manageable size, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

     IT’S WEEK 10, HARVEST DAY.  You did it, that 10 week variety has just the right amount of amber trichomes for your liking.  Take some pictures and cut her down.  But ahhh, you still need to dry and cure that bud.  Could be another 4 weeks before you can truly enjoy your smoke.  I’ll share my best practices about drying and curing in a different article, keep an eye out for.   

    You know I love you very much and remember to Grow Learn and Teach.  

IMGS Ep. 159: Sometime things get mislabled.

Click on the link to listen: https://inmygrowshow.libsyn.com/ep-159-sometimes-things-get-mislabled

Click here to watch the episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5noxQURLI3g

Support the show – Go to Patreon.com/inmygrow and donate $1.00 to help keep the show going. 

Check out our new shirts:

 Grow Learn Teach https://www.zazzle.com/grow_learn_teach_t_shirt-235038566746718939

Cannabis Co-Conspirator: https://www.zazzle.com/cannabis_co_conspirator_t_shirt-235433996480788305 

Buy seeds safely online at: https://ilgm.com?aff=2156https://ilgm.com?aff=2156 

Show Notes:  Welcome to Ep. 159.  I hope everyone’s gardens are looking great. My volunteers are looking decente,  I had to put shade cloth over them because of the heat, they’re still pretty young.  I need to get nematodes for that garden bed, I do get a type of japanese beetle grub in my area.  They like to latch onto the roots of plants and suck out the life juice and make them sick or stunted.  Nematodes are great to control them without pesticide.  I’m hoping you can help me with something, I’m looking for recommendations for new cannabis podcasts to listen to.  I’m hoping to find 1-2 good ones that come out of each state that cannabis is legal in.   

Strain of the Week:  NO REVIEW THIS WEEK

Social Media: IG discoveries 

• @Spacementgrown I discovered his feed a few months ago.  I like his cannabis photography, I like the way he frames his subjects.  
• (Move to show artwork) @ganjagod206 has an awesome painting of the structures of a cannabis flower.  It is hands down one of the best and most descriptive images I’ve seen of a single individual cannabis flower known as a “Raceme”.  One of the first places I saw this image was with an article Mel Frank wrote called “The Cannabis Female Flower” that he wrote for O’Shaughnessy’s online.  https://beyondthc.com/the-cannabis-female-flower/    

Report from the cannabis front line: 

Barcellona cannabis https://hightimes.com/news/barcelonas-cannabis-clubs-in-limbo/ 

Pre-roll recall in Canada https://cannabis.wiki/health/pre-rolled-joints-recalled-over-possible-contamination-with-yeast-mould-and-bacteria 

Kratom FDA https://www.marijuanamoment.net/fda-seeks-public-input-on-possible-global-kratom-ban-after-domestic-scheduling-effort-stalled/ 

Cannabis and antismoking efforts https://norml.org/blog/2021/07/23/study-marijuana-legalization-laws-dont-undermine-anti-tobacco-smoking-efforts/ 

Cannabis detox https://www.insider.com/weed-detox 

Big thanks to: All the artists for letting me use their music.

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Go to inmygrow.com to SUBSCRIBE to the show or find us on the Stitcher app.

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Let’s find out how to battle Broad Mites

by Rincon-Vitova Insectary

Broad Mites (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) 

This destructive pest lives on a wide host range. Broad mites secrete and inject a toxic growth regulator into plants as they feed. The toxin causes twisted, hardened and distorted growth and terminal leaves and flower buds become malformed. The reason broad mites are such a problem is they often go unnoticed until they are out of control. Damage can resemble watering deficiency, herbicide damage, a viral disease, micronutrient deficiency or pH imbalance. 

Identification 

Adults are almost microscopic (less than 0.2 mm long), oval, and look swollen in profile  

Light yellow-amber or green (females have a light, median stripe. Males lack the stripe).  

Two hind legs of adult females are reduced to whip-like appendages.  

The male is smaller and faster moving than the female. The male’s hind legs are enlarged for mating  

Eggs are colorless, translucent, elliptical and covered with scattered white tufts on the upper surface  

Life Cycle 

Broad mites reproduce prolifically between 70-80º F.  

Eggs hatch in two-to-three days and each female can produce 40-50 eggs.  

Female broad mites lay 30 to 76 eggs on the leaf surface. 

Un-mated females lay male eggs; mated females usually lay four female eggs for every male egg.  

The larvae hatch in 2 or 3 days, are slow moving and do not disperse far to feed.  

In 2 or 3 days, the larvae develop into a quiescent larval stage.  

Quiescent female larvae become attractive to the males, who pick them up and carry them to the new foliage. 

Females emerge & males immediately mate with them.  

Males live 5 to 9 days; females live 8 to 13 days. 

Monitoring 

Broad mites are so small – virtually invisible on the host plant even with a good hand lens. 

A 60-100x microscope is best to observe broad mites. 

Mites are usually seen on the newest leaves and terminals.  

Mites tend to crowd into crevices and buds and feed on the growing tips. 

Populations of broad mite tend to be most severe in warm, humid conditions. 

Leaf edges tend to cup up or down, become brittle and show signs of scarring. 

Leaves generally curl near the base at the petiole.  

The entire plant will lose its vibrant green color. 

Internodal growth is stunted and overall growth is underdeveloped.  

New growth can blacken and die. 

Cultural Practices 

Broad mites are difficult to control with sprays because they are protected by their habit of feeding in buds or within distorted tissue. 

Hot water treatments can control the mites without injuring the plants: use water at 109.4-120.2°F for 15 minutes. 

Heat treatments: Raise room temp to 115°F for 20 min to 1 hour. 

Take measures to improve overall plant health: compost, compost tea, beneficial microbes to support the plants 

Dust with Diatomaceous Earth: these jagged particles cut the insects and expose to desiccation & disease. It will need to be reapplied as it gets wet. [DE particle size: 10-200 micrometers (μm). Males are 100 μm, females are 200 μm]. 

Plant bean, eggplant, pepper trap crops 

Use Soap & Oil Sprays 

Avoid using pesticides: Triazoles (myclobutanil), spiromesifen, abamectin 

Abamectin: active ingredient occurs naturally, is derived from the soil micro-organism, Streptomyces avermitilis. 

PyGanic is a broad-spectrum insecticide, containing Pyrethrin that is organically compliant. 

Spider mites exposed to carbaryl (Sevin) in the laboratory reproduce faster than untreated populations.  

Carbaryl/some organophosphates/some pyrethroids favor spider mites by increasing levels of Nitrogen in leaves, which stimulates spider mites’ reproduction. These materials are highly toxic to natural enemies and pollinators  

Can cause spider mites to become abundant and damage plants after its application. Insecticides applied during hot weather usually cause dramatic spider mite outbreaks within a few days. 

Cinnamaldahyde, extracted from cinnamon also kills beneficial insects 

Bio-Control 

Predatory mites  

Application Rates: 

A good guideline is that one predator is needed for every 10 spider mites to provide control. 

More than one application may be required if you want to reduce pest populations rapidly.  

Concentrate releases in hot spots where spider mite numbers are highest.  

Once established on perennials, predatory mites may reproduce and provide biological control indefinitely  

Re-augmentation required if nonselective insecticides are applied (which kill the predators). 

Neoseiulus californicus: Persea, Avocado-Brown, Two-spotted spider mite, Pacific, Broad, Cyclamen, Eriophyids 

55°-105°F 40%-80% RH 

*Best in warm/humid conditions   

*Tolerate hot/dry G.H.                            

*Susceptible to pesticides    

*Eats other predatory mite eggs (especially Persimilis)   

Amblyseius fallacis (=Neoseiulus fallacis): Tetranychid mites, European & citrus red, Two-spotted spider mite, Spruce, Broad, Cyclamen, Pacific, Bamboo, Southern red, Bank’s grass mite 

48°-85°F >50% RH 

*OK w Persimilis & Stethorus   

*Can reproduce at cooler temps    

*Can overwinter under snow    

*Best in dense canopy  

*Avoids webbing    

*Can survive at low pest densities   

Scolothrips sexmaculatus: Six-spotted thrips: this is a predatory species of thrips 

Adults and larvae are entirely predaceous, feeding on European Red mite, cyclamen, and Tetranychus species. 

Predaceous adults can be distinguished from phytophagous thrips by three dark spots on each wing cover  

Adults are mostly pale-yellow adult.  

Nymphs are translucent white to yellow and difficult to discern from other thrips species.  

Six spotted thrips can rapidly reduce high populations, but don’t become numerous until after mites have become abundant and damaging. 

Application Rates: 

500-2,000 per acre 

Summary of Strategies 

Diligent monitoring and early detection! 

Sanitation! 

Overall plant health 

Diatomaceous Earth  

Bean, eggplant, pepper trap crops 

Soap & Oil Sprays 

Heat treatments 

Beneficial Insects 

IMGS 153: Pt. 2 The cannabis plant in Veg and a radio show.

For the audio episode click on this link: https://inmygrowshow.libsyn.com/ep-153-the-cannabis-plant-in-veg-pt-2

Support the show – Go to Patreon.com/inmygrow and donate $1.00 to help keep the show going.  

Check out our new shirts:

 Grow Learn Teach https://www.zazzle.com/grow_learn_teach_t_shirt-235038566746718939

Cannabis Co-Conspirator: https://www.zazzle.com/cannabis_co_conspirator_t_shirt-235433996480788305 

Buy seeds safely online at: https://ilgm.com?aff=2156https://ilgm.com?aff=2156 

Show Notes:  Welcome to Ep. 153.  The radio show  

Strain of the Week:  Banana Dream:  sativa dominant hybrid strain (80% sativa/20% indica) It’s a cross of Blue Dream X Banana Cheese strains.  It has a fruity, piney and funky cheese aroma and flavor.  This flower has a 25% THC and the high started out in the back of my head swept forward to my eyeballs. I like it for that middle of day smoke break and the high wasn’t distracting.  The internet says that Banana Dream is often chosen to treat conditions such as chronic fatigue, depression, chronic pain, and migraines or headaches.

Social Media:  Friday Aug. 6 has Cheech and Chong at Libby Bowl.  Tickets are still available.   

Report from the cannabis front line: 

More about the M.O.R.E Act https://www.marijuanamoment.net/trump-clemency-recipient-says-federal-marijuana-legalization-bill-will-leave-many-prisoners-behind/ 

Driving and cannabinoid blood levels https://norml.org/news/2021/06/10/analysis-thc-per-se-thresholds-are-unreliable-indicators-of-psychomotor-impairment/ 

Conversations with:  Cannabis in Veg Pt. 2

Big thanks to: All the artist for letting me use their music.

“In My Grow Show – Grow Learn Teach” T-shirts are here for you.  to check it out.  CLICK HERE check it out. 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the youtube channel youtube.com/inmygrowshow

Support the show – Go to Patreon.com/inmygrow and donate $1.00 to help keep the show going.

Music:

Anno Domini – Cash Machine

Track Tribe – Six O’clock Rush

Go to inmygrow.com to SUBSCRIBE to the show or find us on the Stitcher app.

Email us at inmygrow@gmail.com

Find us on Instagram @inmygrow 

Click here to go to 101cbd.org

Go to DeltaLeafLabs.com to order your “Plant DNA Sex Testing Kits”

Click Here for the Amazon link to help support the show.

IMGS 152: Those Rabbits

Audio Podcast: https://inmygrowshow.libsyn.com/ep-152-those-rabbits

Support the show – Go to Patreon.com/inmygrow and donate $1.00 to help keep the show going.  

Check out our new shirts:

 Grow Learn Teach https://www.zazzle.com/grow_learn_teach_t_shirt-235038566746718939

Cannabis Co-Conspirator: https://www.zazzle.com/cannabis_co_conspirator_t_shirt-235433996480788305 

Buy seeds safely online at: https://ilgm.com?aff=2156https://ilgm.com?aff=2156 

Show Notes:  Welcome to Ep. 152.  Thank you for hanging out.  I know the show schedule has been a little erratic.  It’s been busy around here and I’m dealing with a family medical issue, so all my time has been dedicated to dealing with that.  So thanks again for taking the time to watch and listen.  Later I will talk a little more about the cannabis plant in veg.   

Strain of the Week:   Durban Poison – Has a piney, wet dirt almost wet forest smell and taste and originates from the South African port city of Durban. It’s said that Ed Rosenthal, an American cannabis activist, discovered the original strain and brought in back to the United States in the 1970s.  It has a strong, energetic happy head high that’s great for creativity and daytime use.  It didn’t get in the way of my day but you gotta be careful.   It has a 23% THC so paranoia may be a possible side effect if you’re new to cannabis.  The internet says that Durban Poison is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety, as well as chronic pain, and it can also be helpful with nausea.  

Report from the cannabis front line:

Job Corps. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/stop-kicking-young-people-out-of-jobs-training-program-for-marijuana-congressional-chairwoman-says/ 

Get fit https://www.marijuanamoment.net/frequent-marijuana-consumers-are-actually-more-physically-active-than-non-users-study-finds-smashing-stereotypes/

Colorado new cannabis law https://norml.org/blog/2021/06/03/colorado-senate-lawmakers-advance-measure-amending-states-medical-cannabis-access-law/ 

Conversations with: Rabbits 

Big thanks to: All the artist for letting me use their music.

“In My Grow Show – Grow Learn Teach” T-shirts are here for you.  to check it out.  CLICK HERE check it out. 

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the youtube channel youtube.com/inmygrowshow

Support the show – Go to Patreon.com/inmygrow and donate $1.00 to help keep the show going.

Music:

Go to inmygrow.com to SUBSCRIBE to the show or find us on the Stitcher app.

Email us at inmygrow@gmail.com

Find us on Instagram @inmygrow 

Click here to go to 101cbd.org

Go to DeltaLeafLabs.com to order your “Plant DNA Sex Testing Kits”

Click Here for the Amazon link to help support the show.

Let’s talk about Root Aphids.

By Rincon-Vitova Insectary

Root aphids feed on the root system, sucking so much sap that the plants do not receive proper sustenance. Leaves turn yellow and little new growth occurs. They can move from plant to plant via the drainage holes in pots, or through irrigation water that drains from one pot to another. Root aphids tend to congregate on the outer edges of the root ball.  

What to expect when your cannabis plant is in the Vegetative (veg) Stage.

by Alex Robles

     Take a moment to pat yourself on the back because that seedling you agonized over is now a plant in the vegetative (veg) stage.  Most new growers usually make mistakes and their plants pay with their lives before they get to veg.  So again, good job on getting your plant this far.  Now that we’re done celebrating we have to plan our work and work our plan because that plant is going to need more of our attention now. 

     I’m going to talk in some broad general terms about the cannabis plants.  The reason for this is because there’s so much variety in cannabis, it’s easy to get tangled up in the small details.  Before we start talking about the veg stage, the importance of pH, nutrient needs and pest control, let’s get to know this amazing plant a little better.