Mountain Growing in Central America

shiman51 · #1 06-25-2007, 08:52 AM

Presently I have two different stages of plants not counting some clones I am trying for the first time. My largest babies are over 7ft tall now and one is in what I would call the 7th day of flowering and the other is just starting to show signs that it is ready to start. I have not kept a very good journal on the older plants and am interested in starting one for the younger ones.
the younger babies are 5weeks old today sprouted on the 21st of May. They are of two different strains and are just out of a bag purchased in Panama. I topped one plant when it had reached the forth set of branches, after several days of stunted growth she quickly started growing again and got very bushy. The non topped plant is growing well and is only a couple of inches taller than the topped one.

shiman51 · #2 06-25-2007, 09:12 AM

Due to the size of most of the photos please look at the gallery pics to see my plants. I will be posting them throughout the week, being in rural Central America I only have dial up and it takes a long time to load.

shiman51 · #3 06-26-2007, 11:00 AM

Well the babies are entering their 6th week now and they stand, topped at 16 inches and non topped at 17 inches. Having opened up the topped baby yeterday the inner leaves have turned a much darker green and showing signs of faster growth. the top two branches after the minor trimming yeterday slowed their growth.

shiman51 · #4 06-29-2007, 10:26 AM

Well its Friday and the little babies have been a bit slower this week than last. I figure that there could be two reasons for this; 1. I might have been a bit heavy on the nutrients this week 2. The weather has been cooler and rainy. Since Monday's measurements the bush baby has gone from 16 to 18 inches in height and gained gerth of 6 inches to finish at 24 inches. the second baby has gone from 17 inches to 22 inches and the gerth is still 14 inches.
They are both looking like they will be females although it is still too early to be sure. This week they will get some Peters 20-20-20 but in a much weaker soulution than last week. the aroma of these babies is strong and can be smelled outside a good 20 feet away........hope it keeps up.

The big babies have grown well this week until I sprayed a nuterient mix that was 26-55-10. First time I used this mix and I certainly stunned and burnt the tips some. The babies are showing signs of recovering nicely, although the new growth is a light yellow and turns dark green evening. The new growth of over night then again is light yellow in the morning.
Anyone with any suggestions or ideas of a cause? I have never had any babies this light colored and then revert back to dark green before. Seems to have started with the spraying of the mix.

The flowering of one is progessing ok, I am like an anxious father though wanting it to go quicker. The tallest is now showing good signs of entering the flower stage. Both of the babies are well over 7 feet now with the tallest close to 8. both have slowed growth like the smaller babies this past week.

shiman51 · #5 07-01-2007, 04:26 PM

Well the 1st of July and I have made a major pruning on the littlest of the babies. I took 8 clones off of Pretty Girl and 1 topping of Dreams which I am attemptin g to clone. I will force flower this girls on the 14th of July, I have to come back to the States on the 5th. Pretty Girl was 20 inches tall and 25 inches in girth when pruned. She now has 14 available branches to grow which have been pruned.
Pictures to follow tomorrow, I was too much in shock at having done this to my baby to take pics today. Sorry just an old hippie that doesn't smell badly.

JonnyBlunt88 · #6 07-01-2007, 05:13 PM

How are the feds on growing over there. I heard that they mostly target large scale ops. and will make deals with the growers. Anyway, nice plants man, keep us posted.

shiman51 · #7 07-02-2007, 05:43 AM

I am off the beaten path here, I have never seen a plane or helicopter. Since I have moved here I have heard of 2 large 5 acre plus operations busted. I simply am 2 to 4 plants and a few clones I am working on. I have been told that as long as I keep 3 or fewer babies no one will bother me, but after years in the states growing my old habits are hard to break.

shiman51 · #8 07-02-2007, 06:52 AM

Dang, I never get use to it, lol, yesterday when I was finished pruning and cloning I just could not bring myself to take pictures of the girls ( I'm pretty sure at this point they are). This morning, fresh cup of coffee to get the smoke and beer from behind my eyes I set out to take the pics from yesterday's deed.
They looked really good to me this morning and I happily clicked a few shots and took measurements again to make sure I was correct yesterday. Pretty Girl came out of the pruning at 20 inches tall and 24 to 25 across. I also trimmed most of the fan leaves of the primary branches to let more light in. Pretty Girl is a very compact growing plant or maybe the better description is a very full bodied plant. The growth has been dense and full, lots of secondary growth now.

All comments are welcomed along with any suggestions.

TheJollyBrother · #9 07-02-2007, 08:14 AM

they are looking great man nice be in the country must be easy to grow there, no one to bother you.

shiman51 · #10 07-02-2007, 04:43 PM

Well, after getting over the shock of cutting up Pretty Girl yesterday and seeing the nice growth she put on last night and today, I couldn't wait. Pretty Girl is now inside an old refrige, cutting her daylight from 12+ hours a day to alittle over 8. Since I am leaving for the states for a week on Thrusday I decided that I would go ahead and start the flower cycle.