First Time Grower Getting VERY nervous.......

[cone head]

hey dude lookin heaps healthy yeah as frazz said stick to what ya doin coz they look good but could give them a kick of some sulphate of potash to boost the flowers a bit if you like

 

 

 

Cone

[Hotrod13]

Looking very sweet I wish I had a solid fence to stealth next to

[Anakha]

Hi all, just a quick update..........

 

Well as advised I gave my girl a haircut last night (well the early hours of the morn actually..... I reckon a couple of others here know how hard it is to prune by moonlight!!!!)

 

Anyways attached a couple of pics....terrible quality but the only angles I could get without looking dodgy! I hope I havent pruned too heavily.....got rid of a lot of leaves.....again trying to take in the advise and experiment a little...........

 

Got the Rose Focus today and will give her a taste of that on Thursday night/Friday morning and hope for some decent bud develpment going forward

 

Cheers

[Auntynorm]

G'day Anakha. A finer pruning job I could not have done, perfect. See how they stand taller? With all that extraneous weight gone they seem to do much better. And they don't look anywhere near as obvious. My big girl is really starting to pump now, every day I see a change in the quantity on her. I have another one that I'm going to harvest if the rain comes, but if not, probably this time next week.

[Anakha]

Hey Norm

Thanks for the feedback mate, good to know i am on the right track with learning to look after her. Had two brilliant sun soaked days since her pruning and well your advise has presented yet another problem!! She has reacted that WELL that she has decided to stand up with the top cola thinking its a chance at reaching the top of the fence to say hello!!!! Easy fix there tonight, I just cant believe what a difference it has made!!!!! owe you a beer for that piece of advise as I honestly would have thought it would damage her but stand corrected.....

 

Good to hear your ladies are coming along well......nervous times but VERY exciting!!!

 

A lot of length in the "to be" buds but as yet not much thickness so will owe you ANOTHER beer if that Rose Focus helps with that........just got to control the root lock situiation which is a bit of a handful in truth but so far so good......could that be an issue with the buds developing properly (root lock i mean) I know it affects the size of the plant just concerned its gonna hurt the quality as well.......

[Frazz]

Everyone has their own ideas, but to be blunt, its not a good idea to remove all those healthy green fan leaves it goes against the natural order of Cannabis' life cycle IMO

 

Auntnorm i respect your views and actions on your own plants, but i believe you should do some further research on stripping leaves from Cannabis plants in flower before advocating it to new growers

 

dont just take it from me, see this following extract from "Marijuana Botany by Robert Connell Clarke"

Leafing is one of the most misunderstood techniques of drug Cannabis cultivation. In the mind of the cultivator, several reasons exist for removing leaves. Many feel that large shade leaves draw energy from the flowering plant, and therefore the flowering clusters will be smaller. It is felt that by removing the leaves, surplus energy will be available, and large floral clusters will be formed. Also, some feel that inhibitors of flowering, synthesized in the leaves during the long noninductive days of summer, may be stored in the older leaves that were formed during the noninductive photoperiod. Possibly, if these inhibitor-laden leaves are removed, the plant will proceed to flower, and maturation will be accelerated. Large leaves shade the inner portions of the plant, and small atrophied floral clusters may begin to develop if they receive more light.

 

In actuality, few if any of the theories behind leafing give any indication of validity. Indeed, leafing possibly serves to defeat its original purpose. Large leaves have a definite function in the growth and development of Cannabis. Large leaves serve as photosynthetic factories for the production of sugars and other necessary growth sub stances. They also create shade, but at the same time they are collecting valuable solar energy and producing foods that will be used during the floral development of the plant. Premature removal of leaves may cause stunting, because the potential for photosynthesis is reduced. As these leaves age and lose their ability to carry on photo synthesis they turn chlorotie (yellow) and fall to the ground. In humid areas care is taken to remove the yellow or brown leaves, because they might invite attack by fungus. During chlorosis the plant breaks down substances, such as chlorophylls, and translocates the molecular components to a new growing part of the plant, such as the flowers. Most Cannabis plants begin to lose their larger leaves when they enter the flowering stage, and this trend continues until senescence. It is more efficient for the plant to reuse the energy and various molecular components of existing chlorophyll than to synthesize new chlorophyll at the time of flowering. During flowering this energy is needed to form floral clusters and ripen seeds.

 

Removing large amounts of leaves may interfere with the metabolic balance of the plant. If this metabolic change occurs too late in the season it could interfere with floral development and delay maturation. If any floral inhibitors are removed, the intended effect of accelerating flowering will probably be counteracted by metabolic upset in the plant. Removal of shade leaves does facilitate more light reaching the center of the plant, but if there is not enough food energy produced in the leaves, the small internal floral clusters will probably not grow any larger. Leaf removal may also cause sex reversal resulting from a metabolic change.

 

If leaves must be removed, the petiole is cut so that at least an inch remains attached to the stalk. Weaknesses in the limb axis at the node result if the leaves are pulled off at the abscission layer while they are still green. Care is taken to see that the shriveling petiole does not invite fungus attack.

 

It should be remembered that, regardless of strain or environmental conditions, the plant strives to reproduce, and reproduction is favored by early maturation. This produces a situation where plants are trying to mature and reproduce as fast as possible. Although the purpose of leafing is to speed maturation, disturbing the natural progressive growth of a plant probably interferes with its rapid development.

 

[Anakha]

And the learning and experimentation continues!!!!

Thanks Frazz for that article (even though reading it just got worse and worse!!! )

Reasons why i did take the advise to prune as hard as I did:

 

1. Probably the least important reason to do it but the main reason why I did it I liked the idea of it being a little harder to spot.....I am a rather nervous bloke at present....

 

2. I did think that with the plant at least half way through her flowering cycle that it would be ok to prune hard and temps are about to drop a few degrees pretty quickly so thought it would be a good idea........in truth my thinking was that if i stressed her a little by removing them but leaving just enough that the buds may mature quicker cause I just dont have many more weeks that I can leave her.......

 

I have read so much and learnt so much over the last couple of months and everyone (as you stated) has there different approaches that hey if this approach doesnt work for me where I am then I have learnt something and hopefully will be able to salvage some buds anyways.....if it does work then good knowledge AND some nice buds from my first grow!!!!

Either way I appreciate all your guys input and have happily implemented the suggestions I have when its best suited my situation.....all good either way.....its my own fault but I swear I will cry if she turns hermi at this stage!!!!!!!!!!.

 

I do have to say though that the response from the plant so far (i know only two days) has appeared to be very positive.....

 

 

 

 

[Auntynorm]

Everyone has their own ideas, but to be blunt, its not a good idea to remove all those fan leaves it goes against the natural order of Cannabis' life cycle IMO

 

Auntnorm i respect your views and actions on your own plants, but i believe you should do some further research on stripping leaves from Cannabis plants in flower before advocating it to new growers

 

dont just take it from me, see this following extract from "Marijuana Botany by Robert Connell Clarke"

Leafing is one of the most misunderstood techniques of drug Cannabis cultivation. In the mind of the cultivator, several reasons exist for removing leaves. Many feel that large shade leaves draw energy from the flowering plant, and therefore the flowering clusters will be smaller. It is felt that by removing the leaves, surplus energy will be available, and large floral clusters will be formed. Also, some feel that inhibitors of flowering, synthesized in the leaves during the long noninductive days of summer, may be stored in the older leaves that were formed during the noninductive photoperiod. Possibly, if these inhibitor-laden leaves are removed, the plant will proceed to flower, and maturation will be accelerated. Large leaves shade the inner portions of the plant, and small atrophied floral clusters may begin to develop if they receive more light.

 

In actuality, few if any of the theories behind leafing give any indication of validity. Indeed, leafing possibly serves to defeat its original purpose. Large leaves have a definite function in the growth and development of Cannabis. Large leaves serve as photosynthetic factories for the production of sugars and other necessary growth sub stances. They also create shade, but at the same time they are collecting valuable solar energy and producing foods that will be used during the floral development of the plant. Premature removal of leaves may cause stunting, because the potential for photosynthesis is reduced. As these leaves age and lose their ability to carry on photo synthesis they turn chlorotie (yellow) and fall to the ground. In humid areas care is taken to remove the yellow or brown leaves, because they might invite attack by fungus. During chlorosis the plant breaks down substances, such as chlorophylls, and translocates the molecular components to a new growing part of the plant, such as the flowers. Most Cannabis plants begin to lose their larger leaves when they enter the flowering stage, and this trend continues until senescence. It is more efficient for the plant to reuse the energy and various molecular components of existing chlorophyll than to synthesize new chlorophyll at the time of flowering. During flowering this energy is needed to form floral clusters and ripen seeds.

 

Removing large amounts of leaves may interfere with the metabolic balance of the plant. If this metabolic change occurs too late in the season it could interfere with floral development and delay maturation. If any floral inhibitors are removed, the intended effect of accelerating flowering will probably be counteracted by metabolic upset in the plant. Removal of shade leaves does facilitate more light reaching the center of the plant, but if there is not enough food energy produced in the leaves, the small internal floral clusters will probably not grow any larger. Leaf removal may also cause sex reversal resulting from a metabolic change.

 

If leaves must be removed, the petiole is cut so that at least an inch remains attached to the stalk. Weaknesses in the limb axis at the node result if the leaves are pulled off at the abscission layer while they are still green. Care is taken to see that the shriveling petiole does not invite fungus attack.

 

It should be remembered that, regardless of strain or environmental conditions, the plant strives to reproduce, and reproduction is favored by early maturation. This produces a situation where plants are trying to mature and reproduce as fast as possible. Although the purpose of leafing is to speed maturation, disturbing the natural progressive growth of a plant probably interferes with its rapid development.

 

G'day Frazz.

The pruning of the LARGE shade leaves down here in Vic does do what the author Connell Blake notes in the first paragraph. But the pruning takes place here when the plant has started flowering, not before, also he reports on the premis that it helps to prevent fungal infection, I believe it also helps to prevent insect infestation, neither are a problem here. I have 6 plants on the go at the mo, 1 7ft plus, 2 are 6ft plus, 1 at 5ft and 1, that got almost destroyed by slugs/snails early on, at 4ft. There is 1 that I have pretty much left alone that I'm using as a control. All of these plants are in flower now, and will produce a power of head. I've got 3 years of this procedure behind me now and I believe I'm onto a good thing. Everyone I have advocated this to has asked for info on what to do to cure problems or improve their plants, I don't believe I've been at all dogmatic on the subject, if it apears so, that was not my intention. I have over 30 years growing behind me and this is something new I came across and thought it may help others.

Cheers

Norm

P.S. I do not know the book of Connell Blake, could you tell me when it was first published and who is the publisher, I will get a copy and have a read.

[Frazz]

yea Anakha i truly hope it works for you too , i maybe be completely wrong, i dont know everything but i just cant agree with it

nevertheless looking at your plants Anakha they look fairly well developed so it probably wont make much difference to yours at all

 

have a great harvest anyway

[smashed1]

when i do it its only if it gets in way , or just rip the couple fingers off in center of leaf , leve the other fingers there , an when i want the big MF leaves not to look so suss, i just rip tips of the longer fingers but i wouldt do all of em