Thanks Rocky, I tend to agree. I was thinking the same thing, but while discussing the idea with my wife, we reasoned that even at tropical longitudes, there isn't high UVB exposure the entire time the sun is up, only during peak hours... i.e. you can't get a sunburn from 5-8 AM on a Mexican beach. I've tried, but maybe that's a personal problem
The THC, UVB and Me video was absolutely the one with the Canadian hippie dude. My favorite part is (regarding trichromes): "again, no form without function, the plant has sent this THC to the outer edges of the cuticle so that the very things any bug's leg is going to touch is THC and that would immobilize it instantly. This stuff is way strong for a little tiny bug. [Lights joint.... holds in...] Now some science that I've run across is talking aboat [talking slower]... about how..."
Seriously I feel that it's a great watch for any grower, especially solar storm users.
Anyway, I did procure an extra timer, and have it set to cycle 1/2 hour on and 1/2 hour off while the lights are on only. Figured I'd split the difference, and see what that looks like. I also will have started them on UVB around week 2 of flower, so I'm feeling like that might be a little early there. Not sure if it's just a waste of light at this point, or if it's detrimental to growth.
Speaking of growth, I believe we're entering the last part of stretch. I'm breathing a small sigh of relief, because the Pineapple Chunks are at their absolute furthest horizontal they can go. Yay! But the Money Makers still have a little more screen they could stretch to fill. Boo.
- A screen full of weed. Money Makers on top, Pineapple Chunks on bottom. I've got my excited face on.
- canopy.jpg (743.51 KiB) Viewed 4227 times
- The canopy is pretty even. I'd like to have seen a bit more horizontal stretch before growing up, but what're you gonna do?
- canopy height.jpg (857.05 KiB) Viewed 4227 times
And this morning, before lights off, it was day 20 of flowering. Tonight when the lights turn on it'll be day 21, the day that I'm supposed to defoliate to allow bud site growth. To be honest, I did a pretty big defoliation two days before the photos above. So I'll probably hit them again tonight, then give them a chance to rest a little. I know that it's controversial, but I do believe that there are benefits to select leaf removal. I've been doing it throughout this grow, and so far it doesn't look to have hurt anything.
Primarily, like I mentioned above, I'd like to get as much light as possible to the bud sites, which are developing beautifully. I wasn't expecting the Money Makers to smell as sweet as they do, but going on blind smell alone, I would have thought they were the Pineapple Chunks.
- Money Maker 1 is developing quickly! #2 is a little behind. Here is a bud from #1.
- Money Maker bud.jpg (835.74 KiB) Viewed 4227 times
The Pineapple Chunks are looking very uniformly developed, and just as beautiful as the Money Makers but just like in veg, they look just a few days behind... Which is weird because the plants are physically bigger.
- Both Pineapple Chunks look pretty similar in flower development. Both girls are becoming beautiful young ladies, and I'm so glad I kept both of them.
- Pineapple Chunk Bud.jpg (880.29 KiB) Viewed 4227 times
Now let's take a minute to compare my notes about these strains, and how they grow compared to how they're said to grow by the breeder.
Money Maker -Vigorous, fast growth
MC: Check. This strain is one of the most vigorous I've ever encountered, even with the pH issues I had earlier
-Low Leaf:Calyx ratio
MC: Not really. There's not many Calyxes at this point, but there are
so many leaves on this plant it's absurd. We'll see how this changes as flowering progresses
-Can take high nutrient levels
MC: Sure seems like it! Once pH was corrected (ironically by ignoring it) they're eating up all the CO2 and nutes I can throw at them
-Short and Bushy Stature
MC: Yeah, absolutely and completely on point. These are bushes... I've never grown a pure indica before, but these 70%/30%'s are sure growing on the Indica side of life. Gonna love the smoke!
Pineapple Chunk -Vigorous, stable, mould and disease resistant
MC: Meh... They're vigorous, but I don't know if I would call them stable. I had pH issues, but compared to the others in VEG they were a little un-impressive. But I have to say now that I'm more impressed with them overall than I am with the Money Makers.
-Watch out for stretch... 1' -> 4' in 4 weeks
MC: Yeah, you've been watching so you know they've grown huge quickly. I'm hoping that stretch calms down shortly. Get fat girls, you're tall enough.
So far, I really like the way that they're both growing. Both breeders have my respect, and I'm looking into other strains of theirs to try next. Speaking of things to try next, has anyone here grown Jack the Ripper by TGA Subcool? I remember that being the very best Sativa high I've ever had. She's on my radar for down the road too.
MC