A Female Flower
Plants also have a "genetic memory." In other words the genetic history of plant carries forward such that the plant is adapted to a "natural" environment, which has been selected by the principals of natural selection, and man-made modifications creating cultivars of a species. The better the gardener can replicate the proper conditions for the plant the better his results.
Key essential factors for plant growth are temperature, sun light, soil nutrients, air, and water.
Cannabis Sativa, hemp, marijuana, pot, is a perennial plant grown for fiber, pulp, flower, and seed. The flower is grown for its oil content, an alkaloid used as a drug. The fiber and pulp are used in thousands of products from rope to paper. The seeds produce a fine food source and a high quality oil.
Hemp is photo period sensitive, flowering in response to shortened sunlight periods. Depending on the latitude the parent plants were cultivated, the plant will flower when the day length reaches 12 � hours. For equatorial cultivars, this may be closer to 12 hours and less. Generally speaking plants grown from Kentucky south will begin the flowering process in mid September. Plants grown in more northern climates will not begin to flower until late September and early October, awfully close to frost dates.
Cannabis is a dioecious plant. Male and female flowers are separate, essentially on separate plants. (Because of the polyploid nature of many cultivars, the ability for some plants to produce both types of flowers can be stimulated by extremely abusive conditions. These plants when self fertilized produce an abundance of seed that are primarily female. ) The female flowers produce the highest THC-9 (tetahydrocannabinol) content, the source of the psychoactive properties of the drugs hashish and marijuana. Marijuana contains from 1 - 4 per cent THC. Culling out male plants to prevent pollination and hence seed formation, produces female plants with the highest potency.
The Hemp plant is a dicot, having two germinal seed leaves. The first embryonic leaves of the seedling are small oval leaves, looking nothing like a saw-toothed adult leave. These leaves unfold from within the seed case, as the root extends outward in the opposite direction.
In the era of tight budgets the economics of the war on drugs is becoming very important. The police state is in a very high need of cheap labor at the county level. The district attorney is under pressure to get as many guilty pleas with out lengthy trials. The promotion oriented cops want publicity. The papers want to sell more copies. The average non-violent pot grower fits the bill all the way around. Many counties have as much as 80% of the "slave labor" done by people who have plea bargained down for growing or possession marijuana. If they didn't bust you who would cut the weeds along the roads? They surely would rather use a free "slave" than pay a grunt minimum wage.
Hemp is a herbaceous, softwood, perennial with a yearly seasonally affected rhythm. Photo period and temperature seem to be the primary means of influencing bio rhythms of the plant. However, some indications are made that particular cultivars have been developed that are age influenced, they grow more as an annual would. These unusual cultivars may flower at a given age. However, this author has no experience with these plants first hand and doubts there existence. This is more a likely report of "experts' who are more authoritative than accurate. Regardless, a plant flowering for the first time at about around two hundred days old seems to have more flowers than ones at 60 days old. During vegetative growth, periods of 13 to 18 hours of sun light and ambient daytime temperatures of 75 to 95 degrees (F) are in the optimal range. Night time periods of six to 11 hours, and night temperatures of 65 to 80 degrees (F) are within the optimal range. Flowering is induced under conditions of reduced day-length, and depending on the cultivar will flower at periods of less than approximately 12 hours. Cooler temperatures ranging in the daytime, around the mid 80s, with nightly lows around 55 degrees(F) produce very potent lush flowers. The stronger the vegetative growth, the more energy available for flower production.
Colchicine is a chemical used to induce polyploid plants, by interfering with chromosome migration. This should not be attempted by anyone not familiar with laboratory procedures and safety techniques. The chemical is classified highly toxic. To use the Colchicine, laboratory technicians prepare a pre soaking solution of distilled water with about 0.05 % Colchicine. This will cause many of the seeds to die and not germinate, but the ones that do come up will be polyploid plants. This is the accepted difference between such strains as "Redneck Techno" and normal grass. The first generation plants contain residual chemicals, and can be dangerous if smoked. Subsequent generations will be polyploid plants and not contain any residual mutative chemical. Do not try this at home unless you have received proper supervised training!
For more on polyploid plants study the uses on tomato and orchids among the many engineered plants.
Problems with having enough time from the initiation of short enough light periods and the rapidly cooling concurrent temperatures in northern climates in fall produce a short period for flowers to develop before frost. Once flowering initiates a full six weeks will produce the optimal flowers, however in some cultivars continuous flowering for eight and ten weeks have been recorded. Often the period from mid September to November in higher latitudes is also accompanied by very low temperature and frost. In more southern latitudes the required photo periods that initiate flowering happen in late August and early September, with frost dates not happening until late October or early November. The six-week minimum is almost always present annually in southern gardens. Growers north of Kentucky should rely on more plants to produce the quantity available from fewer flowers. It is usual for a southern Kentucky grown hemp plant to produce four times as many flowers as an Iowa hemp plant for example.
|
A Female Flower | Male and female flowers can be identified using a couple of indicators. As mentioned earlier, the male flowers have a tendency to be present a few weeks to a few days before the production of the female flower. In addition they have a distinctive appearance. The male flowers are spread out on a raceme, an elongated stem. They contain the pistils, which produce the pollen. The female flowers appear as densely packed modified leaves in the axils of the larger leaves and stems. The flowers are composed of modified leaves that are much smaller. The flowers are composed of bracts, sepals calyx, and stamens all densely packed, looking like a tight spiral of small leaves. These flowers contain an ovary, which when pollinated by the male flower will produce a seed. |
During seed growth the unification of the genetic material from both parent plants creates an embryonic plant contained within the seed case. Energy is directed toward the plant's purpose of creating other plants with its unique gene pool.
Cut the plant with sharp razor or knife below the bottom node. Care should be taken to use a sterile tool. Cleaned in alcohol or at the minimum washed with soapy water. Any decay promoting bacteria that is introduced to the cut surface will cause the plant to rot rather than grow new roots. Care should also be taken to ensure that the cutting's end is not crushed in the process.
Strip the lower leaves from the plant by cutting them off close to the stem. This node has cell tissues that are particularly flexible in their development, able to grow roots, stems, or other types of plant material. These cells are "turned on' by certain growth hormones. When present the hormones "tell' the cells what to become.
Place the bottom stem with the node in clean sterile water, then dip the wet end in rooting hormone (indolebutyric acid). Products which also contain an antifungal agent are the best, since it may take some time before the roots are developed. Many trade names are available at local plant and nursery stores. This author has had good results from Rootone, on a variety of hardwood and softwood cuttings.
Small flower pots with a sterile, non-soil medium such as Pro-Mix should be used to plant the treated stems. Place a pencil or other small stick approximately as deep as the stem is long. (From the end to the first group of remaining leaves.) Put the hormone-treated stem in the hole and firm up the soil around it. Be careful not to knock the hormone off the end of the stem as it is placed in the hole.
Care should be taken in allowing for proper moisture. Watering from below is best. If the plants can be housed in an area with high humidity, they will not wilt as readily. Some people use a tent made from small plastic bags to help retain humidity around the plant. However, this may increase the probability of fungus problems as air circulation is reduced. Another method to reduce the amount of water expiration from the leaf surface is to reduce the total leaf size by cutting each leaf in half horizontally. This permits the plant to continue photosynthesis and grow, but at a slower rate. The plant needs to continue to grow so that it has materials to produce its roots at the bottom node.
After a few weeks the plant will start to show signs of vegetative growth. This is a sure sign that roots have developed. The plant should be potted up into the next size container. The new soil should contain sufficient nutrient to promote vigorous root development. Commercial transplant mixtures containing nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, along with vitamin B1 or other growth regulators may enhance the successful development of roots. Do not use a mixture that contains additional indolebutyric acid. It is important not to use these mixtures more than once on a plant, because the future vegetative growth can be adversely affected by residual chemical in the soil and within the plants.
After the plant has developed sufficient size, it should be transplanted and grown on as indicated in previous sections.
A larger stem is selected, one that has some thickening and hardening to its tissues. A small cut is made in the stem starting on one side and going upwards and in approximately two thirds of the way through the stem. Place a small amount of rooting hormones in this cut. Also place a small tooth pick in the cut so that it is left open with a small gap between the two sides of the cut. Now place a wad of damp sphagnum moss or peat moss around the whole area. Next wrap the area with plastic wrap such as Saran Wrap. Now cover the whole thing with aluminum foil to exclude light.
After a few weeks has passed check the cutting by removing some of the foil and wrap. If roots are present then the process can proceed to the next step.
When the plant has developed roots, it may be removed from the parent plant. Cut the plant off below the area where the roots have developed, not in the same place where the original slice was made. Place the whole new plant in sufficient soil to develop additional roots. A stake may be used to secure the new plant until it develops sufficient foundation to support itself.
One can reduce the available water as the plants begin to make the resin rise to the flowers. This will increase the THC resin a little, as this resin is a protection from dehydration.
One can prune the flower, right at the spot where it joins the plant, and a new flower will form. This can be repeated several times to get more flowers than usual.
Plant growth regulators are reported to produce more flowers, and to produce them earlier. If the plants are sprayed with Ethrel early in their growing stage, they will flower more profusely. It is advisable to do this the first few times on only a portion of the garden. After familiarity with the product and desirable effects are obtained then one may want to do this on the whole crop. Ethrel is not approved for this use by the manufacturer. This author has not employed its use on hemp, choosing not to smoke a chemical with unknown effects. There are no known problems associated with the use of this product among other growers who use this method, but one would be better off to error on the safe side when presenting information of this type. If one has a bent for experimentation, this may be an avenue to follow.
Bending the adult plants to a slightly horizontal position increases the sun light exposure to the plants and enables the plant to become more vigorous. It also causes the plant to diffuse more of the growth hormones, especially the flowering hormones, throughout the plant. This has much the same effect as the pruning of growth tips, without dramatically reducing the leaves available for photosynthesis. Some growers go so far as to actually break the main stem, not all the way off but enough to reduce fluid flow and structural strength. This purportedly increases the need and use of the resin to reduce dehydration. This author has not employed this method.
While there are enough zealots in the world to promote organic methods, a realistic approach must be allowed. There is no doubt that with a crop that is intended to be smoked the more natural the better. Residual chemicals from pesticides, soil born herbicides, and fertilizers are retained by plants that are exposed to them. These products are then vaporized when ignited and inhaled into the lungs. As far as this author is concerned, the less exposure to these chemical residues the better. Also, when chemical amendments are used it is wise to use the safest ones available.
There are a multitude of chemical amendments that are still considered in the organic realm. Fish emulsion is a high source of nitrogen and trace elements like iodine. In addition this product may be diluted and applied to the entire plant, leaves, stems and roots. This should only be done during the vegetative growth period, as it will promote leave growth at the expense of flower production.
Rock phosphate is a good soil amendment for phosphorous deficiency. This should not be mistaken for super phosphate, an entirely different, non-organic fertilizer. Rock phosphate should be mixed into the soil at the time of bed preparation if one suspects that the soil is deficient in this key component.
Wood ashes are a good source of potassium in the form of potash. These may be mixed into the soil at planting time and also may be added as a side dressing later if needed. In addition wood ashes are a good product to "dust" plants troubled with many kinds of insect invasions. The plants must be retreated after a rain, since the ashes wash off easily.
Miracle Grow and Peters Professional are not organic products. However, the ease of use and the relative safety factors does not prohibit their use. While a naturally fed plant will be a healthier plant with less disease and insect problems, a plant fed with these fertilizers will be hard to distinguish from the former. In addition the residues are washed off in a rain and do very little harm to soil organisms. The inclusion of key trace elements makes them good choices for remedial application to plants showing signs of deficiency. When using these products a rapid and noticeable response can be enabled by incorporating a foliar feeding method.
Foliar feeding involves the application of water soluble fertilizer to the leaf and stem surface of the plants. When doing a spraying of ones crop care must be taken to not mix the solution too strongly. Results can be obtained by applying the product in a very week solution ( approximately a 1/2 tablespoon per gallon of water) every seven to fourteen days. It must be cautioned that foliar feeding should not be done when the temperatures are high and while the sun is shining directly on the plants. Late evening and dusk are the best times to apply a foliar feed, giving the plant a much longer time to absorb the product and permitting the plant to dry slower. A sun light and heat stimulated evaporation of the solution can have severe detrimental effects on the plant, pulling moisture out of the plant and leaving a "salt" residue. Plants may be burned and killed by foliar feeding of strong solutions and doing so in the heat of the day.
| Symptom | Problem/Cure |
| Larger leaves turning yellow - smaller leaves still green. | Nitrogen deficiency. Foliar feed fish emulsion, very week solution. |
| Older leaves will curl at edges, turn dark, with a purple cast. | Phosphorous deficiency - Foliar feed with Miracle Grow for vegetables |
| Mature leaves develop a yellowish cast to leave veinal areas. | Magnesium deficiency - Foliar feed with very week Epsom salt solution |
| Mature leaves turn yellow and then become spotted with edge areas turning dark grey. | Potassium deficiency -Foliar feed with Miracle Grow for vegetables |
| Cracked stems, no healthy support tissue. | Boron deficiency -Foliar feed with Miracle Grow for vegetables |
| Small wrinkled leaves with yellowish vein systems. | Zinc deficiency -Foliar feed with Miracle Grow for vegetables |
| Young leaves become deformed, possibly yellowing. | Molybdenum deficiency -Foliar feed with Peter's Professional |
| Plants wilt even when watered. Root rot. | Caused by too much water. Hard to save from such a condition. Try reducing water and flushing soil with commercial antifungal product. Best is prevention. Do not over water. Allow soil to dry between watering. |
Weak plants and plants that are being rooted sometimes get infested with spider mites, white flies, aphids, and plant lice. Some root feeding beetles may also be a problem. By far the best methods of dealing with these creatures is prevention. However when they do become a problem, insecticidal soap, sprays are an organic solution. These sprays are safe, and residual amounts of the substance is negligible after the plants are washed with a rain or when hosed off. Safers soap and other commercial products are available. Follow label directions.
In a really bad infestation, a nicotine spray can be made at home. Commercial Nicotiana is not advisable since this is a highly toxic substance. To make homemade nicotine spray, dissolve a few (3) cigarettes in � gallon water over night. The water should have a rich brown tea color after 12 hours of soaking. This water should then be heated to boiling and allowed to cool to room temperature before spraying. The purpose of the boiling is to kill a tobacco mosaic virus which may be present in the cigarette tobacco. One would not want to introduce this incurable disease to one's crop. The plant should be sprayed on all surfaces, with special attention to any insects that are present. The speed with which this kills insects is a testimonial to anti- tobacco smoking. The residual spray is washed off readily.
Black mold, or sooty mold is another problem. This results from a decaying of sweet nectar that is the by product of an aphid invasion. The molds can be removed by washing. Of course the problem will recur if the aphid problem is not dealt with. Leaf yellowing or shriveling may also be caused by virus and bacterial problems associated with a parasite invasion. Removal of affected plant parts and treatment for the invasion is recommended. Most often with hemp, yellowing of leaves is a deficiency of magnesium, and not a disease born of a virus or bacteria.
It is recommended that all systemic insecticides, fungicides, and bactericides be avoided. These remain in the system of the plants and can be very harmful if smoked.
Sun light destroys THC content, while heat helps produce it in dying plants. Once plants are dead and dry, they should be stored in cool dry places. Freezing is best.
