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=== Cannabis === |
=== Cannabis === |
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Cannabis is an annual plant, which naturally is vegetative in the spring and summer, preferring to fruit in the fall, or late fall. Plants are male or female, and are known for their production of oils, fibers, and the |
Cannabis is an annual plant, which naturally is vegetative in the spring and summer, preferring to fruit in the fall, or late fall. Plants are male or female, and are known for their production of oils, fibers, and the chemical [[Tetrahydrocannabinol]], or [[THC]]. |
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Cultivation of the plant typically focuses on production of one of its above-noted ingredients. It is possible to grow the plants in a very close matrix, whereupon the resultant plants will have very fine fibers, which can be used to make [[silk]]. Alternatively, plants which are grown under close nutrient supervision with enhanced carbon dioxide environments and lighting will produce relatively higher quantities of THC. |
Cultivation of the plant typically focuses on production of one of its above-noted ingredients. It is possible to grow the plants in a very close matrix, whereupon the resultant plants will have very fine fibers, which can be used to make [[silk]]. Alternatively, plants which are grown under close nutrient supervision with enhanced carbon dioxide environments and lighting will produce relatively higher quantities of THC. |
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There are many types of hydroponic systems. If the nutrient solution floods the loose growing medium and recedes for aeration, this is an ''ebb and flow'' or ''flood and drain'' system. Systems that gradually drip solution onto the medium are ''drip systems''. Systems that intermittently spray roots floating in air are called ''aeroponic systems''. If aerated water runs down a channel lined with a film of rooting medium, this is a ''nutrient film technique'' system. A series of tubes intermittently running high flow nutrient solution into the tops of growing containers use a ''top feed system''. |
There are many types of hydroponic systems. If the nutrient solution floods the loose growing medium and recedes for aeration, this is an ''ebb and flow'' or ''flood and drain'' system. Systems that gradually drip solution onto the medium are ''drip systems''. Systems that intermittently spray roots floating in air are called ''aeroponic systems''. If aerated water runs down a channel lined with a film of rooting medium, this is a ''nutrient film technique'' system. A series of tubes intermittently running high flow nutrient solution into the tops of growing containers use a ''top feed system''. |
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The main advantages of hydroponic systems are greatly increase aeration of plant roots, and increased real-time control of nutrient uptake. The latter fact means that hydroponic systems are decidedly more difficult to operate for the amateur or hobby grower, and overfertilization is common, as there is no soil to act as a nutrient buffer. Additionally, if a hydroponic system fails, the crop has a high probability of dying as the roots rapidly dry out (this is especially true of aeroponic systems). However, properly operated hydroponic systems, with other factors at an optimum, have been proven to outperform soil under the same environmental circumstances. |
The main advantages of hydroponic systems are greatly increase aeration of plant roots, and increased real-time control of nutrient uptake. The latter fact means that hydroponic systems are decidedly more difficult to operate for the amateur or hobby grower, and overfertilization is common, as there is no soil to act as a nutrient buffer, many grower's now use coco (coconut hair) as a soiless medium due to its high drainage & buffering capabilities making it almost impossible to over-fertilise. Additionally, if a hydroponic system fails, the crop has a high probability of dying as the roots rapidly dry out (this is especially true of aeroponic systems). However, properly operated hydroponic systems, with other factors at an optimum, have been proven to outperform soil under the same environmental circumstances. |
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In marijuana culture, some believe that hydroponically cultivated marijuana can have fewer byproducts in the resultant smoke and ash, providing for a cleaner and healthier smoke. Of course, the veracity of such claims is suspect, as with proper pre-harvest flushing, and post-harvest drying and curing, there would be nothing to indicate an inherent difference in harmful content between soil and soiless mediums. |
In marijuana culture, some believe that hydroponically cultivated marijuana can have fewer byproducts in the resultant smoke and ash, providing for a cleaner and healthier smoke. Of course, the veracity of such claims is suspect, as with proper pre-harvest flushing (a controversy itself, as many growers/botanists believe any excess nutrients are broken down into sugars during the drying & curing processes and effectively you are just killing your plant by starving it of nutrients), and post-harvest drying and curing, there would be nothing to indicate an inherent difference in harmful content between soil and soiless mediums. |
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=== Organic Cultivation === |
=== Organic Cultivation === |
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"Organic" is a substance containing a carbon molecule, a living organism or was previously a living organism, while the name ''organic'' may be a misnomer when applied to cultivation of cannabis, it is similar to the [[organic food]] movement in recent times. The methodology is superficially similar to the hydroponic methods, with the exception of tending towards soil and nutrients which are derived from organic sources. In general, these sources are things like Seabird & Bat [[guano]], Horse, Cow, Chicken, Rabbit & Swine Manure, Alfafa Hay or Meal, Blood & Fish Meal, Wormcastings, Kelp Meal or Liquid Seaweed & Wood Ashes. The use of soil (generally in buckets or heavy duty plastic bags) makes for a more natural cultivation process. However, the composition of the "organic" nutrients is strictly monitored by the manufacturers, and is usually printed on the container. For this reason, the supposed organic cultivation of cannabis, especially indoors, resembles other controlled cultivation methods where the intake of the plants is closely monitored. |
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=== Outdoor Cultivation === |
=== Outdoor Cultivation === |
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[[Image:More rebel doj marijuana.jpg|thumb|right|150px]] |
[[Image:More rebel doj marijuana.jpg|thumb|right|150px]] |
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Some government organizations have claimed that in state and national parks, people have been injured by these "rebel farmers" protecting their crops. |
Some government organizations have claimed that in state and national parks, people have been injured by these "rebel farmers" protecting their crops, it is well documented that this is a developing problem with Mexican Cartel's guerilla growing in national parks. |
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==== Detection ==== |
==== Detection ==== |
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=== Screen of Green === |
=== Screen of Green === |
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One of the techniques used in the cultivation of cannabis is referred to as ''screen of green''. This technique is so called because it involves ''training'' the plants to adapt to a wire mesh (similar in technique to an [[Pergola|arbor]]). In so doing, one attains a great uniformity in the crop, and all plants attain near equal exposure to lighting. Additionally, during [[harvest|harvesting]], the extraction of marijuana from the cannabis plants is easier due to the uniform display of the flowering parts. |
One of the techniques used in the cultivation of cannabis is referred to as"Sea of Green" or ''screen of green'', SOG or SCROG for short. This technique is so called because it involves ''training'' the plants to adapt to a wire mesh (similar in technique to an [[Pergola|arbor]]). In so doing, one attains a great uniformity in the crop, like a forest of flowers (buds) instead of the usual christmas tree like formation and all plants attain near equal exposure to lighting. Additionally, during [[harvest|harvesting]], the extraction of marijuana from the cannabis plants is easier due to the uniform display of the flowering parts. It should also be noted this is a system adopted by hobby growers with out much height in their grow-area to grow big plants & by commercial growers as this system uses little or no vegetation time i.e. less yield at harvest but more plants in a confined area grown quicker = more harvest per year & better overall yield if controlled properly! |
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=== Sea of Green === |
=== Sea of Green === |
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attention. |
attention. |
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To ensure that no pollen is introduced into the environment used for cultivation, it is important to sex the plants |
To ensure that no pollen is introduced into the environment used for cultivation, it is important to sex the plants as early as possible & remove the males, pollen sacks take 1-2 weeks to mature & burst & can be easily identified because their sex organs are displayed as small yellow or white balls growing in clusters at the branch internodes. |
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=== Lighting === |
=== Lighting === |
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==== Metal Halide and Sodium |
==== Metal Halide (MH) and High Pressure Sodium (HPS) ==== |
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[[Image:Indoor mh lights vegetative hydro.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cannabis being cultivated under metal halide lamps. Depicted is vegetative growth and an extensive hydroponics setup. ''Photo courtesy USDOJ'']] |
[[Image:Indoor mh lights vegetative hydro.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Cannabis being cultivated under metal halide lamps. Depicted is vegetative growth and an extensive hydroponics setup. ''Photo courtesy USDOJ'']] |
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Lighting is crucial in any successful cannabis growing endeavor. The commonly used lights are [[metal halide]] and high pressure sodium or [[ |
Lighting is crucial in any successful cannabis growing endeavor. The commonly used lights are [[metal halide]] and high pressure sodium or [[HPS]], as it is sometimes called. |
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There is much debate on the subject of which lights are better for cannabis plants. The important thing to realize is that plants need a full spectrum of light, and using just metal halide, or just sodium vapor, will not yield a broad spectrum. It is therefore much better to use one of each kind of light during vegetative growth. |
There is much debate on the subject of which lights are better for cannabis plants. The important thing to realize is that plants need a full spectrum of light, and using just metal halide, or just sodium vapor, will not yield a broad spectrum. It is therefore much better to use one of each kind of light during vegetative growth. Though with today's improved spectrum output where more blue light is produced most growers just use HPS throughout the whole process, but as most modern day ballasts run both MH & HPS, some growers will use MH for the vegative stages. |
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[[Image:Indoor sodium lights.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Cannabis cultivated for Marijuana under sodium lights. ''Photo courtesy USDOJ'']] |
[[Image:Indoor sodium lights.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Cannabis cultivated for Marijuana under sodium lights. ''Photo courtesy USDOJ'']] |
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Cannabis, like many plants, determines when to switch from vegetative to fruiting growth by the number of hours of light it receives in a given day. This is related to the change of [[seasons]], where cannabis prefers to flower in the early to late fall. |
Cannabis, like many plants, determines when to switch from vegetative to fruiting growth by the number of hours of light it receives in a given day. This is related to the change of [[seasons]], where cannabis prefers to flower in the early to late fall. |
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With indoor growing, it is possible to grow the plants with 24 hours of light when they are growing vegetatively. Because of this, many indoor growers receive very compressed fruiting schedules -- some as few as |
With indoor growing, it is possible to grow the plants with 24 hours of light when they are growing vegetatively. Because of this, many indoor growers receive very compressed fruiting schedules -- some as few as seven weeks --which would not be attainable under natural sunlight. |
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When lighting decreases to twelve hours |
When lighting decreases to twelve hours per 24 hour period, plants will switch from a vegetative to a fruiting state. At this point, cannabis begins to produce flowers which are usually harvested. |
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==== Lighting Modifications ==== |
==== Lighting Modifications ==== |
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Cannabis, like other plants, will tend to grow faster and more massive with more light. However, because some plants are naturally more vigorous than others, some will grow taller than their sisters. At this point, the taller plants will occlude the shorter plants, and the shorter will continue to have poorer nourishment than the taller plants. |
Cannabis, like other plants, will tend to grow faster and more massive with more light. However, because some plants are naturally more vigorous than others, some will grow taller than their sisters. At this point, the taller plants will occlude the shorter plants, and the shorter will continue to have poorer nourishment than the taller plants. |
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For this reason, some manufacturers have produced rotating light fixtures. In this setup, a light or set of lights will be affixed to a scaffold that rotates at regular intervals around the crop. This allows the shorter plants to receive more light. |
For this reason, some manufacturers have produced rotating light fixtures & Light Rails. In this setup, a light or set of lights will be affixed to a scaffold that rotates at regular intervals around the crop or on a rail on which the light moves back & forth in a predetermind timed sequence. This allows the shorter plants to receive more light. |
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⚫ | |||
To some extent this need can be obviated with the abovementioned ''screen of green'' technique. |
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=== CO2 Enrichment === |
=== CO2 Enrichment === |
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An important factor in extreme efficiency cannabis cultivation is containing the genetics of one's crop. This is frequently done by starting with several known strains, or several strains with preferred genetics (in the case of marijuana, one might use seeds from a batch that somebody particularly enjoyed), and then breeding or growing them to find the children which performed best. |
An important factor in extreme efficiency cannabis cultivation is containing the genetics of one's crop. This is frequently done by starting with several known strains, or several strains with preferred genetics (in the case of marijuana, one might use seeds from a batch that somebody particularly enjoyed), and then breeding or growing them to find the children which performed best. |
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After selecting the progeny which best typify the results desired, the plants can be cloned using [[rooting hormone]] before they flower. Such a plant is referred to as a '' |
After selecting the progeny which best typify the results desired, the plants can be cloned using [[rooting hormone]] before they flower or 2 weeks into flowering max. Such a plant is referred to as a ''mother'', and a plant can be carried through a cultivation operation for as long as the grower prefers to keep the plant around. |
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==== Sex Tricks ==== |
==== Sex Tricks ==== |
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In addition to removing males from the growing environment, it is possible to use a combination of cloning and "shocking" plants to get them to procreate with their clones (a clone will retain the same sex throughout its life, so if you clone a female plant, its clone children will also be female, precluding reproduction). |
In addition to removing males from the growing environment, it is possible to use a combination of cloning and "shocking" plants to get them to procreate with their clones (a clone will retain the same sex throughout its life, so if you clone a female plant, its clone children will also be female, precluding reproduction). |
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It is possible to use very erratic lighting, or several days of no light at all, to shock a plant into turning into a [[hermaphrodite]]. Such plants have both male and female sex organs. After doing this, one can take the hermaphrodite and have it reproduce with one of its clone children. This will yield sometimes in excess of 90% female plants, if one starts with a female. This makes the cultivation of sinsemilla much easier, of course. |
It is possible to use very erratic lighting, or several days of no light at all, to shock a plant into turning into a [[hermaphrodite]]. Such plants have both male and female sex organs. After doing this, one can take the hermaphrodite and have it reproduce with one of its clone children. This will yield sometimes in excess of 90% female plants (with hermatic tendencies), if one starts with a female. This makes the cultivation of sinsemilla much easier, of course. |
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==== Hybrid Vigor ==== |
==== Hybrid Vigor ==== |
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==== Harvesting ==== |
==== Harvesting ==== |
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After the plant has fruited, |
After the plant has fruited, it is possible to "bring back" a plant which has fruited, and return it to vegetative state, this is commonly called "Revegging", most growers would advise against this & advise you to either gather clones earlier or start a mother plant as revegging can take up to 4 weeks just for the palnt to be fully back in the vegative stage & show signs of growth, obviously you have the previous height of the plant to consider & a revegged plant tends to grow very vigrously & bushy, hard to control, anyone considering this option should have plenty of room, both in radius & height. The length of time between the beginning of flowering and the time for harvest is individual to each strain of plant. It can be anywhere from six weeks to sixteen, in general. |
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==== |
==== Trimming ==== |
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Upon cutting the flowers from the plants (sometimes in a large stalk called a"[[cola (botany)|cola]]"), the larger leaves are cut from |
Upon cutting the flowers from the plants (sometimes in a large stalk called a"[[cola (botany)|cola]]") or Donkey's Dick, the larger fan leaves are cut from main stem, excepting ones which are covered in [[trichome]]s (see [[Cannabis]] for more details on ''glandular trichomes''). This is called "Trimming". |
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==== Drying ==== |
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The plants should be dried slowly over 2 weeks or more at roughly room temperature (18c). Flowers are hung by their stalks, allowing the internal fluids of the plant to remain in the flowers. When the stems in the middle of the largest buds are snap-dry, the plants are dry enough to be cured. |
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Note: Drying should be done in a dark place, once no longer growing the trichome crystals will deteriorate if exposed to light. |
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==== Curing ==== |
==== Curing ==== |
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The Curing process continues in breaking down sugars and helps develop taste & a smoother smoke, usually, the dried product is packed (not compacted) into glass caning jars which are airtight, initially the product must be checked periodically (every few hours) to make sure the herb was properly dry & has not remoistened itself, if it has it needs to be removed & further dried, after a couple of days when you are satisfied the product is dry, you can seal off the jars and just open them once a week. Curing is a personal experience, the minimum is usally 2 weeks, some growers go up as far as 6 months & some do not cure at all, but it has to be said curing greatly improves the taste of the product! |
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Marijuana can be made by curing the plants in room temperature, or slightly warmer environs. Flowers are hung by their stalks, allowing the internal fluids of the plant to remain in the flowers. At some point, they become dry enough to smoke. Plants must be cured in order to be smoked, or the water in the plant will prevent it from being effectively burned. |
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Note: for the same reasons as drying, curing jars should be stored in a cool, dark, place. |
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==== Extraction ==== |
==== Extraction ==== |
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Cannabinoids are soluable in some chemicals, notably [[butane]]. It is possible to take the leaves and stems of the plant, which are generally considered to be of low THC concentration, and immerse them in liquid butane. The butane is then captured through a filter, and evaporated (butane becomes a gas at room temperature, so one may simply allow it to evaporate). The resultant oil is almost purely THC, which can be then smoked. Of course, one should not smoke in the presence of evaporated butane. |
Cannabinoids are soluable in some chemicals, notably [[butane]]. It is possible to take the leaves and stems of the plant, which are generally considered to be of low THC concentration, and immerse them in liquid butane. The butane is then captured through a filter, and evaporated (butane becomes a gas at room temperature, so one may simply allow it to evaporate). The resultant oil is almost purely THC, which can be then smoked. Of course, one should not smoke or otherwise create flame in the presence of evaporated butane, which is highly combustible. |
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==== Hashish ==== |
==== Hashish ==== |
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*[http://greenmanspage.com/guides/easyguide.html Cannabis growing guide] |
*[http://greenmanspage.com/guides/easyguide.html Cannabis growing guide] |
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*[http://www.cafepress.com/foxycool |
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*[http://www.overgrow.com/ Overgrow] |
*[http://www.overgrow.com/ Overgrow] |
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*[http://www.marijuana.com Marijuana.com] |
*[http://www.marijuana.com Marijuana.com] |
Revision as of 23:26, 14 September 2005
Overview
Cannabis cultivation is the cultivation of the cannabis plant. Species of cannabis include C. Sativa, C. Indica, and C. Ruderalis. Cannabis is primarily grown for two purposes: the production of hemp for materials such as clothing and oil (for cosmetics, fuel, as well as many other products), or for the production of the recreational drug, marijuana. The medical use of cannabis is well-documented but its use remains restricted in most countries.
The legal status of marijuana has led growers to novel cultivation methods such as hydroponics, aeroponics (itself a form of hydroponics), as well as organic cultivation methods. Research into the production of cannabis for the drug marinol has further pushed the envelope of cannabis cultivation. This emphasis on advanced cultivation techniques -- both from non-commercial and commercial growers -- is believed to be a factor in the increase in the overall quality of cannabis over the last few decades.
Botany
Cannabis
Cannabis is an annual plant, which naturally is vegetative in the spring and summer, preferring to fruit in the fall, or late fall. Plants are male or female, and are known for their production of oils, fibers, and the chemical Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
Cultivation of the plant typically focuses on production of one of its above-noted ingredients. It is possible to grow the plants in a very close matrix, whereupon the resultant plants will have very fine fibers, which can be used to make silk. Alternatively, plants which are grown under close nutrient supervision with enhanced carbon dioxide environments and lighting will produce relatively higher quantities of THC.
While it is possible to grow cannabis simply for the purpose of a houseplant or as a hobby, the practice is quite challenging due to the need to keep the plant in a near perpetual vegetative state.
Hydroponic Cultivation
Increasingly popular, especially in the developed world, is the hydroponic cultivation of cannabis. Hydroponic cultivation generally occurs indoors, although there is no practical obstacle to growing outdoors. In general, it consists of a non-soil medium which is exposed to a nutrient and water flow.
There are many types of hydroponic systems. If the nutrient solution floods the loose growing medium and recedes for aeration, this is an ebb and flow or flood and drain system. Systems that gradually drip solution onto the medium are drip systems. Systems that intermittently spray roots floating in air are called aeroponic systems. If aerated water runs down a channel lined with a film of rooting medium, this is a nutrient film technique system. A series of tubes intermittently running high flow nutrient solution into the tops of growing containers use a top feed system.
The main advantages of hydroponic systems are greatly increase aeration of plant roots, and increased real-time control of nutrient uptake. The latter fact means that hydroponic systems are decidedly more difficult to operate for the amateur or hobby grower, and overfertilization is common, as there is no soil to act as a nutrient buffer, many grower's now use coco (coconut hair) as a soiless medium due to its high drainage & buffering capabilities making it almost impossible to over-fertilise. Additionally, if a hydroponic system fails, the crop has a high probability of dying as the roots rapidly dry out (this is especially true of aeroponic systems). However, properly operated hydroponic systems, with other factors at an optimum, have been proven to outperform soil under the same environmental circumstances.
In marijuana culture, some believe that hydroponically cultivated marijuana can have fewer byproducts in the resultant smoke and ash, providing for a cleaner and healthier smoke. Of course, the veracity of such claims is suspect, as with proper pre-harvest flushing (a controversy itself, as many growers/botanists believe any excess nutrients are broken down into sugars during the drying & curing processes and effectively you are just killing your plant by starving it of nutrients), and post-harvest drying and curing, there would be nothing to indicate an inherent difference in harmful content between soil and soiless mediums.
Organic Cultivation
"Organic" is a substance containing a carbon molecule, a living organism or was previously a living organism, while the name organic may be a misnomer when applied to cultivation of cannabis, it is similar to the organic food movement in recent times. The methodology is superficially similar to the hydroponic methods, with the exception of tending towards soil and nutrients which are derived from organic sources. In general, these sources are things like Seabird & Bat guano, Horse, Cow, Chicken, Rabbit & Swine Manure, Alfafa Hay or Meal, Blood & Fish Meal, Wormcastings, Kelp Meal or Liquid Seaweed & Wood Ashes. The use of soil (generally in buckets or heavy duty plastic bags) makes for a more natural cultivation process. However, the composition of the "organic" nutrients is strictly monitored by the manufacturers, and is usually printed on the container. For this reason, the supposed organic cultivation of cannabis, especially indoors, resembles other controlled cultivation methods where the intake of the plants is closely monitored.
Outdoor Cultivation
When cultivated outdoors, the chosen areas are those which receive twelve hours or more of sunlight in a given day. Northern locations are preferred (Humboldt County, California being particularly notable), but southern locations (such as Maui, Hawaii) are also known to be good producers.
In general, a south facing exposure is preferred for maximum sunlight exposure. In instances where the local laws do not permit growing cannabis, cultivators may choose to grow in forests or rugged and rural areas where the local population are not likely to find the crop. Another technique is to grow cannabis in a crop that is larger and obscures the plants, such as maize. This is reported by the United States government to be common in the midwestern states.
Some government organizations have claimed that in state and national parks, people have been injured by these "rebel farmers" protecting their crops, it is well documented that this is a developing problem with Mexican Cartel's guerilla growing in national parks.
Detection
In locales where it is illegal to cultivate cannabis, there are two primary methods of detection. The first involves monitoring an area, and determining where abnormal power draws and heat signatures are. This can be done in conjunction with civilian agencies, such as the local power companies, and with the use of infrared cameras.
To detect plants outside, complex methods to measure the heat and reflective signature of cannabis are employed. This is quite effective, and difficult to defeat, as the reflective mask of a given plant is very difficult to change.
Screen of Green
One of the techniques used in the cultivation of cannabis is referred to as"Sea of Green" or screen of green, SOG or SCROG for short. This technique is so called because it involves training the plants to adapt to a wire mesh (similar in technique to an arbor). In so doing, one attains a great uniformity in the crop, like a forest of flowers (buds) instead of the usual christmas tree like formation and all plants attain near equal exposure to lighting. Additionally, during harvesting, the extraction of marijuana from the cannabis plants is easier due to the uniform display of the flowering parts. It should also be noted this is a system adopted by hobby growers with out much height in their grow-area to grow big plants & by commercial growers as this system uses little or no vegetation time i.e. less yield at harvest but more plants in a confined area grown quicker = more harvest per year & better overall yield if controlled properly!
Sea of Green
In contrast to the "Screen of Green" methodology, Sea of Green growing depends on the high density of plants (as high as 60 per square meter) to create uniformity in the crop. In this technique, which is always grown in hydroponic media, only the colas of the plants are harvested. In the above image, geometric containers are visible. Such containers are used to enforce the geometric distribution of flowers and plant material, as well as their exposure to lighting and atmosphere.
Sinsemilla
A long tradition among cultivators of cannabis, sinsemilla (literally, "without seeds" in Spanish) is the product of removing male plants from a cannabis plant. The resultant marijuana is considered to be quite strong in comparison to marijuana that has been grown in a pollinated environment. The reason for this is the plants use the resin which would otherwise be smoked as THC-containing will instead turn it into seeds and seed pods. In addition to depriving the end product of THC, the seeds themselves create a "harsher" smoke when consumed.
Thus, sinsemilla is generally more expensive to purchase than marijuana with seeds. Marijuana with seeds is considered by many to be of inferior quality and grown with inferior technique. A common term for the "seeded" form of marijuana is ditchweed, inferring that it actually grew as a weed (which is itself a colloquial term for marijuana) without attention.
To ensure that no pollen is introduced into the environment used for cultivation, it is important to sex the plants as early as possible & remove the males, pollen sacks take 1-2 weeks to mature & burst & can be easily identified because their sex organs are displayed as small yellow or white balls growing in clusters at the branch internodes.
Lighting
Metal Halide (MH) and High Pressure Sodium (HPS)
Lighting is crucial in any successful cannabis growing endeavor. The commonly used lights are metal halide and high pressure sodium or HPS, as it is sometimes called.
There is much debate on the subject of which lights are better for cannabis plants. The important thing to realize is that plants need a full spectrum of light, and using just metal halide, or just sodium vapor, will not yield a broad spectrum. It is therefore much better to use one of each kind of light during vegetative growth. Though with today's improved spectrum output where more blue light is produced most growers just use HPS throughout the whole process, but as most modern day ballasts run both MH & HPS, some growers will use MH for the vegative stages.
However, during flowering (or "fruiting"), a more "warm" spectrum is preferred for the plant. For this reason, during flowering, it is key to use only a sodium vapor lamp. This may present problems for some users, as lighting intensity is also key during fruiting. Many sodium vapor lamps are lower in power than the corresponding metal halide lamps, and so the grower may need to procure additional sodium lamps for the fruiting process, while one (metal halide) may be sufficient for vegetative growth.
Vegetative vs Fruiting Growth
Cannabis, like many plants, determines when to switch from vegetative to fruiting growth by the number of hours of light it receives in a given day. This is related to the change of seasons, where cannabis prefers to flower in the early to late fall.
With indoor growing, it is possible to grow the plants with 24 hours of light when they are growing vegetatively. Because of this, many indoor growers receive very compressed fruiting schedules -- some as few as seven weeks --which would not be attainable under natural sunlight.
When lighting decreases to twelve hours per 24 hour period, plants will switch from a vegetative to a fruiting state. At this point, cannabis begins to produce flowers which are usually harvested.
Lighting Modifications
Cannabis, like other plants, will tend to grow faster and more massive with more light. However, because some plants are naturally more vigorous than others, some will grow taller than their sisters. At this point, the taller plants will occlude the shorter plants, and the shorter will continue to have poorer nourishment than the taller plants.
For this reason, some manufacturers have produced rotating light fixtures & Light Rails. In this setup, a light or set of lights will be affixed to a scaffold that rotates at regular intervals around the crop or on a rail on which the light moves back & forth in a predetermind timed sequence. This allows the shorter plants to receive more light.
Additionally, many cultivators will cover the walls of an indoor grow with either mylar or highly reflective white latex paint or black backed white reflective plastic sheeting so that all possible light is reflected back upon the plants.
CO2 Enrichment
In addition to light, plants require carbon dioxide to grow successfully. Realizing this, successful growers will employ techniques for enriching the local atmosphere with carbon dioxide. This is frequently obtained with a propane burning device, which can be somewhat dangerous for crops left unattended.
A much more static and simple way to do it would be through the use of a CO2 regulator and tanks. This can result in very precise application of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Other techniques include baking soda-vinegar slurries and various other chemical reactions and dry ice. The efficacy is much reduced when compared to a CO2 regulator.
Cloning and Sex Tricks
Genetics
An important factor in extreme efficiency cannabis cultivation is containing the genetics of one's crop. This is frequently done by starting with several known strains, or several strains with preferred genetics (in the case of marijuana, one might use seeds from a batch that somebody particularly enjoyed), and then breeding or growing them to find the children which performed best.
After selecting the progeny which best typify the results desired, the plants can be cloned using rooting hormone before they flower or 2 weeks into flowering max. Such a plant is referred to as a mother, and a plant can be carried through a cultivation operation for as long as the grower prefers to keep the plant around.
Sex Tricks
In addition to removing males from the growing environment, it is possible to use a combination of cloning and "shocking" plants to get them to procreate with their clones (a clone will retain the same sex throughout its life, so if you clone a female plant, its clone children will also be female, precluding reproduction).
It is possible to use very erratic lighting, or several days of no light at all, to shock a plant into turning into a hermaphrodite. Such plants have both male and female sex organs. After doing this, one can take the hermaphrodite and have it reproduce with one of its clone children. This will yield sometimes in excess of 90% female plants (with hermatic tendencies), if one starts with a female. This makes the cultivation of sinsemilla much easier, of course.
Hybrid Vigor
When crossing two strains of cannabis (or two of any plant), the resultant hybrid may possess what is called hybrid vigor. In general, this produces a plant which is healthier, stronger, or quicker growing than its predecessors. Sometimes, in the case of a plant which has been brought back from fruiting (see below), it may be beneficial to cross it back with another (close) relative, in the hopes that it will become invigorated.
Caution should be exercised, as one does not always attain a beneficial cross with hybridizing.
Extraction, Curing, and Other Harvest Processes
Harvesting
After the plant has fruited, it is possible to "bring back" a plant which has fruited, and return it to vegetative state, this is commonly called "Revegging", most growers would advise against this & advise you to either gather clones earlier or start a mother plant as revegging can take up to 4 weeks just for the palnt to be fully back in the vegative stage & show signs of growth, obviously you have the previous height of the plant to consider & a revegged plant tends to grow very vigrously & bushy, hard to control, anyone considering this option should have plenty of room, both in radius & height. The length of time between the beginning of flowering and the time for harvest is individual to each strain of plant. It can be anywhere from six weeks to sixteen, in general.
Trimming
Upon cutting the flowers from the plants (sometimes in a large stalk called a"cola") or Donkey's Dick, the larger fan leaves are cut from main stem, excepting ones which are covered in trichomes (see Cannabis for more details on glandular trichomes). This is called "Trimming".
Drying
The plants should be dried slowly over 2 weeks or more at roughly room temperature (18c). Flowers are hung by their stalks, allowing the internal fluids of the plant to remain in the flowers. When the stems in the middle of the largest buds are snap-dry, the plants are dry enough to be cured.
Note: Drying should be done in a dark place, once no longer growing the trichome crystals will deteriorate if exposed to light.
Curing
The Curing process continues in breaking down sugars and helps develop taste & a smoother smoke, usually, the dried product is packed (not compacted) into glass caning jars which are airtight, initially the product must be checked periodically (every few hours) to make sure the herb was properly dry & has not remoistened itself, if it has it needs to be removed & further dried, after a couple of days when you are satisfied the product is dry, you can seal off the jars and just open them once a week. Curing is a personal experience, the minimum is usally 2 weeks, some growers go up as far as 6 months & some do not cure at all, but it has to be said curing greatly improves the taste of the product!
Note: for the same reasons as drying, curing jars should be stored in a cool, dark, place.
Extraction
Cannabinoids are soluable in some chemicals, notably butane. It is possible to take the leaves and stems of the plant, which are generally considered to be of low THC concentration, and immerse them in liquid butane. The butane is then captured through a filter, and evaporated (butane becomes a gas at room temperature, so one may simply allow it to evaporate). The resultant oil is almost purely THC, which can be then smoked. Of course, one should not smoke or otherwise create flame in the presence of evaporated butane, which is highly combustible.
Hashish
Hashish can be produced by several methods. The method most employed in the west is to take the plants or flowers and beat them against a screen. This causes the trichomes to break off the plants, and be collected under the screen, which serves as a crude filter.
CBD and CBN
In recent years, there has been some debate in the cannabis cultivating community about what cannabinoids are actually preferable in a given crop of marijuana. Two primary and measurable ingredients in marijuana are Cannabidiol, or CBD, and Cannabinol, or CBN. This has piqued the interest of some in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, because of the current fervor about the medical effects of marijauana.
It is believed that CBD is responsible for a more somatic effect (which could be considered therapeutic for some), while CBN is responsible for a more euphoric effect. The question of what one prefers in a recreational setting is up to the individual user, and is a matter of preference.
In the cultivation process, an earlier harvest leads to a higher level of CBN, while a later harvest yields a higher level of CBD. While this is important when fine tuning a given crop of marijuana, genetics play a far greater role in the contents of the plant.
See Also
References
- Rosenthal, Ed. The Closet Cultivator, ISBN 0923551211
- Cervantes, Jorge. Marijuana Indoors: Five Easy Gardens, ISBN 1878823272
- Clarke, Robert Connell, Marijuana Botany, ISBN 091417178X
- Starks, Michael. Marijuana Chemistry: Genetics, Processing & Potency, IBSN 0914171399
- Herer, Jack. The Emperor Wears No Clothes: The Authoritative Historical Record of Cannabis and the Conspiracy Against Marijuana, ISBN 1878125028