Vocabulary/Slang Terms (Updated With the Missing Terms)

18/6: Time normally associated with the vegetative stage of growth i.e. 18 hours of light
to 6 of darkness.

12/12: Timing used to initiate the flowering stage of the plant i.e. 12 hours light to 12
hours darkness.

##/## - The first number refers to the number of hours the lights are ON, and second number refers to the number of hours the lights are OFF.

Abiotic stress - Non-living environmental factors such as frost, drought, excessive heat,
etc. that can have harmfvl effects on plants.

Abscisic Acid - Mediates stress tolerance responses in higher plants, is a key signal
compound that regulates stomatal aperture and, in concert with other plant signaling
compounds, is implicated in mediating responses to pathogens and wounding.

In seeds, ABA promotes seed development, embryo maturation, synthesis of storage
products (proteins and lipids), desiccation tolerance, is involved in maintenance of
dormancy (inhibition of germination), and apoptosis. As well, ABA affects plant
architecture, including root growth and morphology, and root-to-shoot ratios

Aeroponics - Is the growing of plants in a container in which the roots are suspended in a
nutrient mist rather than in a solution. The most popular container for aeroponics is an
enclosed A-frame constructed of styrofoam boards. The plants are placed in holes along
the sloped sides of the frame. The nutrient mist is delivered to the roots by a vaporizer or
by special attachments available with drip irrigation kits. The mist clings to the roots. Any
excess runs down the inside of the frame, is collected at the bottom, and is recycled back
to the nutrient reservoir.

Alternating Leaf - As the plant grows, in the begining, every leaf (that is not damaged)
will have another leaf growing from exactly 180 degrees around the stem. They grow in
pairs. When the plants mature, the leaves will grow one at a time. that is a leaf will pop
out on one side, then, up the stem/ btanch, another will grow. (ie; Alternating)

Auto-Flower (Strain) - An Auto-Flowering strain is a strain of cannabis that automatically
flowers when it reaches maturity. Meaning you don't have to Force Flower as you would
with other plants (ie; changing the light cycle to 12/12, thereby causing the plant to
flower, anticipating the onset of the fall, and then winter, seasons. Auto flower strains
will flower and live out their entire life cycle from sprout to harvest, under 24 hours of
constant light, eliminating the need for a timer. Though they WILL still flourish under
18/6, if the grower wants to allow the room to cool.

Auxins - are plant hormones governing many biological processes in higher plants such
as cell enlargement and division, differentiation of vascular tissue, apical dominance, root
initiation and signaling.

Bag Seed - A seed obtained from a bag of finished cannabis. (Usually the genetic strain of
the seed is unknown, which is why we call it a bagseed)

Ballast - Provides current and power to the light. Here it mostly refers to the above for

H.I.D. (high intensity discharge) lighting.

Blood Meal --This organic fertilizer is very high in nitrogen and is very soluble in water
(unlike most other dry organic fertilizers). It also contains plant growth regulators. All
this together means that its effect is strong and quick, but its power will only last a short
while, especially in wet weather. When applying blood meal, take care, as it will easily
burn a plant's leaves.

Buds - The reason this website exists! -The part of the flowering female plant that
contains high concentrations of THC and other psychoactive ingredients.

Bud Leaves - the small leaves that grow in the buds of the plant, usually covered in
trichomes when harvested.

Calyxes - "the usually green outer whorl of a flower consisting of sepals" -
Merriam-Webster

Canopy - The top branches of a plant, usually shading the lower branches, except when
branch training methods are used. (See LST, SCROG, and SOG)

Cannabidiol (CBD) is NOT a byproduct of THC, it's a Cannabinoid in it's own right and
works in conjuction with THC to influence the start and duration of the high.

Cannabinol (CBN) is a byproduct of THC and is produced via THC degradion from
heat/air/light etc as you describe. It only has a maximum of about 10% THC content and
therefore adds little to the 'high' over and above making the user feel 'sleepy'.

Neither are responsible for the 'stoney' part of the high nor the 'psychoactive' affect the
THC has - that is produced soley by THC.

Canoe-ing? - When a plants leaves curl upwards into a V-Shape, usually caused by heat,
or malnutrition.

CFL - Meaning 'Compact Flouresent Light' AKA 'The Big Curly Bulb'. High Lumen output,
small, and power efficient lights. While not the MOST effective, they work very well for
their size and power consumption.

CFM - Cubic Feet per Minute. This describes the volume of air that is displaced in 1 minute
(see ventilation).

Chemical Nutrients - See 'Synthetic Nutrients'

Chlorophyll - The green pigment in leaves. Chlorophyll pigment is produced in the
chloroplasts of leaf, stem and flower cells. Chlorophyll pigment dominates all other
pigments present including the xanthophylls and carotenes. Chlorophyll captures the sun's energy which is used to manufacture sugar from carbon dioxide and water. Chlorophylls
are constantly being "used up" and thus are continually manufacture by the plant,
provided the environmental conditions are appropriate.

Cloning(s)/Cuttings -- Sometimes the easiest (and fastest) way to grow a new plant is
not from seed, but asexually from cuttings. Cuttings are taken from roots, stems, or
leaves and encouraged to regenerate by providing ideal growing conditions and
(oftentimes) applying rooting hormones. Unlike plants started from seed, a plant grown
from a cutting will have exactly the same characteristics of the parent plant.

Colas - "The female flowers develop tightly together to form dense clusters (racemes) or
buds, cones, or colas"- Mel Frank marijuana Grower's Guide. Cola's are the buds you see.

Composting - The process by which organic materials mixed together in specific
conditions create a nutrient-rich medium.

Curing - Process of placing the dried harvest in tightly sealed, sterile, jar, which should be
stored in a dry, dark, cool place. Then according to preference open the jar for a certain
amount of time everyday to release co2 and moisture and this slowly dries the crop, thus
improving taste and over all quality.

Cotyledons - small round leaves that are the first to appear on a small seedling, they are
not considered ‘true leaves? and often fall off of the plant early in the growth stage.

DWC - Means 'Deep Water Culture'. In its most basic form its a plastic bin full of hydro
solution to a certain level on net pots suspended by way of holes in the containers lid and
the plants roots are basically fed buy an air pump bubbling the solution. However, this is a
very basic description of the practice.

Decarboxylation -This occurs after buds are harvested and during the curing process. The
THC loses a CO2 molecule, which then makes the THC psychoactive. This process is why
drying and curing buds after harvest is crucial to the high that the bud produces.

Feminized seeds - seeds which have a higer likelyhood of sprouting female

FFOF - Means 'FoxFarm Ocean Forest', It's a soil commonly used by growers for it's
properties and ability to grow.

Fish emulsion -- This is a liquid organic fertilizer with a NPK ratio of about 4-1-1 to 7-2-2.
It is water soluble and thus immediately available to plants. It is valued for its high
nitrogen content.

FIM - Acronym for “F*** I Missed!? A variant of the topping technique, where only a
portion of the growth tip is removed, causing an increase in resulting cola sites. (See
topping).

Flo, Flouro, Floro's -- Fluorescents come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. There are
compacts, twist bulbs and circle bulbs. They all work the same way. They have a starter
and ballast which help provide a steady and regulated amount of electricity to the light.

FLIR - Means 'Forward-Looking Infrared', It is a thermal imaging process whereby
differences in heat emission are measured and reflected on a videotape. Heat
concentration is indicated on a videotape on a spectrum of light to dark, with bright white
showing intense heat. Increasingly, law enforcement personnel are using FLIR thermal
imaging to detect indoor marijuana growing operations. However, the Supreme Court in
the U.S. has recently banned the use of FLIR to find these operations.

Flush - the act of cleansing a plant’s roots of nutrients and contaminants by giving the
plant large amounts of water (usually equal to 3 times the volume of soil the plant is in).

Foliar Feeding - The act of giving water and/or nutrients to the plant through the leaves
instead of through the roots.

Force Flowering - Giving a female plant a photoperiod of 12/12 to force the plant into
producing buds. Doing this mimics the natural light cycle of the sun and the Fall season,
and then the winter season, approches.

Garlic - When planted in the same pot/area as your plants, will act as a natural systemic
insecticide to both Greenflys and Blackflys. The plants absorb it from the growing garlic.
It DOES NOT affect the plants scent or taste, can also be used for the same purpose in
other plants.

Genotype - Is the plants characteristics as received from its parents genetic traits.

Germinate - To open a seed and allow growth by planting it, or using various methods to
allow the seed to open and the first root to come out before planting it. Allowing the seed
a better chance of breaching the surface.

GH - Means 'General Hydroponics'

GA - Means 'Gibberellic Acid' - A hormone used to promote plant growth, especially that of seedlings, and obtained from the fungus Gibberella fujikoroi (GA) is used to reduce flowering and fruiting which maximizes growth and minimizes pollen transmitted. GA is also used in
mature plants to increase the fruiting capacity by stimulating the development of lateral
shoots and spurs.

Harvesting - The act or process of gathering a crop. By trimming the buds off, or branches that hold them, and using one of the many methods of drying. Once dried, the option is then available to cure. (See Curing)

Herbs - Aromatic plants used for seasoning, medicinal purposes, or garnishes. Aromatic
herbs are the ones that have fragrant or smelly leaves or flowers. Cannabis leaves are sometimes used as a Herb.

Hermie/Hermaphridite - A plant that changes sex midway through it's life cycle, to have
both FEMALE and MALE characteristics. Due in part to many factors, but primarily due to
stress (ie; light stress, heat stress, nute stress) or improper dark cycle. (ie; not sealing off
the grow area properly and not letting the plant get 100% COMPLETE darkness)

HID - High Intensity Discharge (lighting)

HPS - The best light available today for growing marijuana. High Pressure Sodium lights
are very bright and very efficient. This light has a red/orange spectrum that is ideal for
the flowering phase. With enough of these kind of lights you too can grow those
centerfold buds. HPS comes in a wide variety of wattages from 70 watts up to 1000 watts.

Hormone - A biochemical product of a specific cell or tissue that causes a change or
activity in a cell or tissue located elsewhere in an organism.

Hydroponics - The growing of plants without soil, instead using a medium like clay
pebbles, rockwool-floc or perlite and vermiculite mixture. And giving the plant all the
nutrients through the water the roots are in.

Humus - A complicated material formed during the breakdown of organic matter. One of
its components, humic acid, provides many binding sites for plant nutrients, such as
calcium, iron, potassium, sulfur and phosphorus. These nutrients are stored in the humic
acid molecule in a form readily available to plants, and are released when the plants
require them.

Hybrid -- Often refers to a plant or variety that has been developed by interbreeding two
or more varieties, species, or genera

IBL - Imbred line, a homogeneous strain that shows uniform growth characteristics from
seed

Indica -- Indica is a great plant to grow indoors as well as outdoors due to its low lighting
requirements and tight internode spacing, also offering resistance to fungus and pests,
early maturation tendencies, and dense flower production. Indica's come from colder
climates exhibiting the traits described above by acclimating to the environment from
whence they came. Their stout stature and extremely wide leaflets make them easy to
identify. An Indica generally produces a hard hitting, tiresome, sedative stone, and will
take around 45 to 60 days to finish flowering.

Leggy --If seedlings and plants do not get enough sunlight, they grow tall and thin stalks
as they seek sunlight. These "leggy" plants have a difficult time supporting the weight of
the plant and is easily damaged. (See Stretching)

Light-burn - When the heat from a light burns the plant.

Lollipopping - Refers to cutting the bottom branches off of a plant to allow the top
portion to bud more vigorously. Term refers to the 'lollipop' shape of the stalk and bud.
()
( )
( ) <---bud
( )
l<-----stalk (trimmed of side branches)
l
l

Lumens -- One lumen is equal to the amount of light emitted by one candle that falls on
one square foot of surface one foot away.

LST - Meamns Low-Stress Training, the technique of manipulating the branches in order
to reduce plant height, expose certain branches to light, and/or distribute hormones to
lower branches of the plant to encourage larger buds.

M² - Meters Squared.

Macronutrients - For a plant, there are nine major elements essential for healthy growth;
these are called macronutrients. They are: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (which are all
three derived from air and water); and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur,
and magnesium (from the soil).

Micronutrients - There are about eight nutrients essential to plant growth and health
that are only present in very small quantities. These are manganese, boron, copper, iron,
chlorine, cobalt, molybdenum, and zinc.

Medium - A soil or soil-less mix used to start or re-plant houseplants, flowers,
vegetables, and other plants

Mids - Medium grade cannabis. (See Shwag)

Mottling of Leaves -- Discoloration or spotting of leaves.

MV - Means 'Mercury Vapor' And is the type of lights that were used for streetlights many years ago.
Not very good for growing because it doesn't provide enough of the right kind of light
spectrum. While they do provide a littleof the blue spectrum, MV also produces too much
heat to get very close to a plant, and are very inefficient to operate.

MH - Means 'Metal Halide', And is a very good source of the white/blue spectrum of light that is
ideal for vegetative growth. Many growers use MH during the vegetative phase. MH is
bright and cost efficient to operate, but not as efficient as HPS lights. Most commonly
used sizes are 400 watt and 1000 watt. Works best when used in combination with HPS
lights.

Necrosis - Death of parts of the plant, usually refers specifically to the leaves.

NFT - Means "Nutrient Film Technique". It's a type of hydroponics, where you have the
water constantly moving through the roots, usually on a timer with nutrients added to the
water. Thereby allowing the roots to take in what they need, as they need it. It's a good
way to prevent

Node - The point on a stem where a leaf is attached or has been attached; a joint.

NPK - The elemental symbol for nitrogen is N; for phosphorus it's P; for potassium it's K.
All three of these elements are essential for plant growth and are considered
macronutrients. N, P, and K are the three principal ingredients in most fertilizers. The
NPK ratio is shown by three numbers, such as 2-1-1, that reflect the percentage of each.

Nutes - Nutrients or Fertalizers.

Nute-Burn - The result of feeding a plant an excess of fertilizer or nutrients.

Nute-Lock - When the pH is off and it locks the nutrients into the soil, thereby preventing
the plant from absorbing them.

Organic Nutrients - Natural, non-synthetic nutrients.

Peat moss --The partially decomposed remains of mosses harvested commercially from
the wild. Though difficult to wet initially, peat moss can absorb up to 25 times its own
weight in water and is therefor valued as a an organic soil amendment. Peat moss is
acidic --with a pH of about 3 or 4.0-- and should only be used around acid-loving plants or
to help lower the pH of alkaline soils.

Perlite -- a unique volcanic mineral which expands from four to twenty times its original
volume when it is quickly heated to a temperature of approximately 1600-1700 degrees
F. This expansion is due to the presence of two to six percent combined water in the
crude perlite rock which causes the perlite to pop in a manner similar to that of popcorn.
When expanded, each granular, snow-white particle of perlite is sterile with a neutral pH
and contains many tiny, closed cells or bubbles. The surface of each particle is covered
with tiny cavities which provide an extremely large surface area. These surfaces hold
moisture and nutrients and make them available to plant roots. In addition, because of
the physical shape of each particle, air passages are formed which provide optimum
aeration and drainage. Because perlite is sterile, it is free of disease, seeds, and insects.
Perlite has been used for many years throughout the world for soil conditioning and as a
component of growing mixes with materials such as peat moss or bark. Extensive studies
have shown that the unique capillary action of perlite makes it a superior growing media
for hydroponic cultures.

Among the many uses of perlite today are propagation and seed cultivation, plug
production and transplants, interiorscape and planter growing, composting,

PH -- the measure of soil's acidity or alkalinity, measured on a scale of 1 to 14. Water is
considered neutral at PH 7. PH levels below 7 are classified as acidic, or "sour". Levels
above 7 are basic, alkaline or "sweet". Most plants prefer a slightly acidic soil pH of 6.0 to
6.5.

Phenotype - The plants characteristics as determined by not genetics, but by enviroment
grown.

Phloem: Nutrient conducting tissue.

Photoperiod - AKA lighting schedule, it is the number of hours of light and darkness the
plant is exposed to. Usually expressed as a fraction. Ex: 18/6 = 18 hours of light, and 6
hours of darkness

Photosynthesis: Biochemical process in which light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll, and
is used to fuel the building of sugar molecules.

Pistil - a hair-like protrusion from the nodes/buds of a female plant, also a precursor to
the buds themselves. Pistils turn from white to brown as the buds mature.

Plant Stress - Any unhealthy stimuli the plant receives. Examples: Light-burn,
overwatering, nute-burn. Stress can cause slow growth, mutations, or death.

Potash -- Broadly, potash describes any material containing potassium. More specifically,
though, potash is potassium carbonate derived from wood ashes. The term potash comes
from the process of extracting lye from wood ashes in iron pots

PPM - Acronym for Parts Per Million, this term is used most in hydroponics to measure the
amount of nutrients given to a plant.

Rock Wool ? Mineral or rock wool has been used extensively in Europe and is recently
finding applications in the U.S. greenhouse market. Like perlite and vermiculite, it
originates from a natural mineral (alumino silicates with some calcium and magnesium)
that is heated to 2,700?F to form fibers that are used to make blocks or cubes as a
finished product. Blocks or slabs of rock wool are used extensively by hydroponic growers
of greenhouse vegetables. Rock wool typically has an alkaline pH, is sterile and
chemically inert.

Regenerate - OR Re-vegging, refers to the act of putting a plant back into the growth
cycle after harvesting the flowering buds off of the plant, in order to bud the plant again
or to take clones off of the plant. (See Vegging)

RO - Reverse Osmosis, is a form of purifying water usually used in the bottling of waters.

Root Bound --A condition where a plant or seedling's roots have grown compacted and
entwined in the pot and has no room to grow. This condition results in stunting the plants
growth and potential. The solution is a larger pot or transplanting outdoors.

Ruderalis -- Ruderalis is not a very good choice for flower production, indoors or out.
Despite maintaining a short stature, growing only one to five feet tall, and maturing
rather quickly, Ruderalis just doesn't produce the yield or quality one looks for in their
flowers. A slight light cycle reduction can trigger a sprout with as little as 2 to 3 leaf sets
to flower. Ruderalis spontaneously initiates flowering a few weeks after sprouting, and
will not produce decent flowers unless the photoperiod provides around 18 to 19 hours of
light. Even then, the yield and quality are less than desirable, incomparable to that of the
Sativa or Indica sub-species.

Sativa -- Sativa is a hard plant to grow indoors due to high lighting requirements, tall
stature, and late flowering traits. Sativas come from equatorial regions, thus the
neccesity for high ammounts of lighting and a warmer tropic-subtropic climate. You can
identify a Sativa by its long, slender, finger-like leaves. A Sativa will typically produce a
euphoric, energetic, cerebral high. Despite the Sativa's climatic limitations, they are truly
a reward to obtain, grow, and smoke. A pure Sativa will take 2 to 4 months to finish
flowering.

ScrOG/ SOG -- "Screen Of Green" method. The purpose of ScrOG is to maximize your
usage of the available space and lighting by training the new growth of a plant into a
screen or mesh.

Seed Casing - The integuments of the ovule, which are the ovule's old coverings, harden
and become the seed's protective coat

Sensimilla - OR Sensi, In Spanish means 'without seed', having a female plant bud without
letting a male plant pollenate it, thereby preventing seeds from forming in the buds. This
increases THC potency and smokable bud weight.

Sepal -- Sepals are components of the calyx. Located at the base of the flower, these
modified leaves usually function as protection for the petals while in bud stage.
Occasionally, sepals will be colored, but they are usually green

Sexing - The act of determining the gender of a plant through various methods.

Shwag/Stress/Regs/Bobby Brown - Non-Sensimilla buds that are typicly grown in very
large outdoor batches, which prevents the care and love that smaller groups of plants can
get. It has many names, this is only a few of them.

Stamen --This is the male reproductive organ of a plant, located in the androecium of the
flower. It has two components: the filament and the anther..

Stigma: The sticky tip of a pistil.

Strain - refers to the specific genetics of the plant. Example: White Widow, Northern
Lights.

Stomata: Opening in the epidermis of a leaf which permit gas exchange with the air.

Stretching - When the lights are placed too far from the growing plant and causes it to
stretch out and grow tall and skinny. Normally this happens in young plants and
seedlings/sproutlings.

Sun Leaves/Fan leaves - These are the large leaves that grow off of branches, and while
not rich in THC, they play an important role in photosynthesis.

Synthetic Nutrients - Concentrated and industrial-made nutrients. They have a longer
shelf-life than organic nutes, but are known to nute-burn a plant more quickly.

THC -- a. Tetrahydrocannabinol A compound, C-21 H-30 O-2, obtained from cannabis or
made synthetically, that is the primary intoxicant in marijuana and hashish.
b. The main physcoactive ingredient in pot. this is what gets you "high!". it is often(not
totally accurately) measured by the trichomes(fairy dust) visible on pot.

Topping - Is a method used separate and top of the plant, and make it grow into 2, or even 4 very large main cola's (See Colas)
Traditionally, topping your plant causes two shoots to grow back in place of the one
pruned off, thus increasing the number of top/main buds

Transplanting Shock -- When transplanting seedlings from one place to another, the roots
are often disturbed and occasionally the change in climate can cause the plant to slow
down or appear to stop growing. This is transplant shock. It is really redirecting it's
energy to re-grow lost roots and to get accustomed to a change in temperature that it
hadn't experienced before.

Trichomes - AKA crystals or sugar, they are tiny, mushroom-shaped capitulate glands full
of THC that form on the flowering buds and bud leaves of cannabis.

Vascular - Refers to the xylem and phloem tissues, which conduct water and nutrients
through the plant body.

Vegetative - OR 'Vegging' Refers to the vegetative stage in the first part of a plants life when it is only growing leaves and stems. This is when you have your lights on 18/6-24/0, or any timing variation where the amount of light exceeds the amount of dark by several hours. This
phase preceeds flowering and follows sproutling.

Vermiculite -- is sterile and light in weight (5 to 8 lbs/ft3). The pH of vermiculite will vary
depending on where it is mined. Most U.S. sources are neutral to slightly alkaline,
whereas vermiculite from Africa can be quite alkaline (pH = 9). Vermiculite is used
extensively in the greenhouse industry as a component of mixes or in propagation. It is
usually sold in four size grades: #1 is the coarsest and #4 the smallest. The finer grades
are used extensively for seed germination or to topdress seed flats. Expanded vermiculite
should not be pressed or compacted, especially when wet, as this will destroy the
desirable physical properties.

Ventilation - Circulating air in order to provide the plant with fresh air and/or to reduce
the temperature in the grow area. Air movement also encourages strong stems.

Yield - The amount of bud harvested, or projected to be harvested, from a finished plant.

Watering Schedule - term referring to how often and how much water a plant is given,
usually measured in days and gallons. Ex: 1 gallon every 4 days.

Watts -- A measure of the amount of electricity flowing through a wire. Watt hours
measure the amount of watts used in one hour. A kilowatt/hour (KWH) is 1000
watt/hours.

Worm Casting -- (Vermiconversion) or using earthworms to convert waste into soil
additives, is a biologically active mound containing thousands of bacteria, enzymes, and
remnants of plant materials and animal manures that were not digested by the
earthworm. The composting process continues after a worm casting has been deposited.
In fact, the bacterial population of a cast is much greater than the bacterial population of
either ingested soil, or the earthworm's gut. An important component of this dark mass is
humus. (See; Humus)

WW - Typicly refers to the cannabis strain 'White Widow'.


Thats all so far, is anyone notices anything missing, please feel free to point it out and i'll edit the post and add it in. Thanx for reading and I hope this answers your questions!!!

thats pretty handy mate nice one.

haha!! Some appreciation!! It took me a few hrs to sift through all the posts and add peoples questions and terms...this ALL comes from seeing the same question asked LITERALLY 15 times in 31 pages.

Originally Posted by MANY PEOPLE

What does RO mean?

Before I ask a question, I read as much and search as much for the answer as I can. I dislike asking questions that were answered not a page earlier. As I dislike answering them. If I can take the time to read a couple pages, so can they.
If you don't have time to learn some basic terms, and read a few pages of a forum to learn, you don't have time to grow.

+Rep, Thank You!