calibuzz
Member
CHARLES DARWIN AND THE GROW ROOM:
Mono-culture disaster
By calibuzz - 30 year grower
What does Charles Darwin's Origin of Species, Monsanto, and your grow room have in common?
Answer: Extinction.
Yes, its time to put on our thinking caps and get as advanced as we can - in our goal to grow healthy Medical Cannabis.
Charles Darwin was one of the first persons to note that species change through natural selection. In short terms: every living organism is a little different - by virtue of genes. Some genes promote good health in differing conditions. An example might be: Some cacti live in bright light, other succulent cacti do well in shade, and amongst those two types of cactus, even amongst the same species, some can take drier conditions, some can take wetter conditions. It depends on the individual’s genes. Some die; some thrive - based upon environmental factors.
Charles Darwin noted that every species must adapt or go extinct - the Natural Law.
Not all follow that natural law, including giant agro-corporations, and even indoor cannabis growers.
A few years back, Monsanto, in the goal to corner the market on things like soybeans, started messing with genes. The corporation produced soybean that were all genetically identical, reacting only to their pesticides and fertilizers. BAD IDEA!
The results of identical genes or MONO-CULTURED plants, is that if one gets sick...they all get sick. There is little or no natural diversity to assure that some will survive a change in conditions. Thus, monoculture plants are susceptible to extinction on a grand scale.
"So?" you say.
CLONES: Some indoor growers are fixated on only one strain. They grow a lot of plants with the same genes. This means if one plant in the room gets a mold, fungus, bug, is over watered, too hot or too cold, etc., the others are likely soon to follow. Whole grow rooms can suddenly fail. MONO CULTURING cannabis is a really bad idea.
In my grow op, I work in line with the principals suggested by Charles Darwin and other cutting edge genetic science, by making sure that I have at least ten different strains in my room at any time.
Given this strategy, when infestations or disease strike out-of–the-blue, some plants species will weaken while others are unaffected or less affected. Additionally, as each room is different, the differences in genes ( like percentage Indica genes to Sativa genes in mixed strains) typically leads to one or two plants really thriving in your own grow-room conditions. Yet beware, as if you only clone those that do well, you are back in the same monocultral situation.
For the serious grower, diversity is key. I would advocate that all growers breed their stocks regularly to enhance diversity and to produce superior and resistant strains. For the home grower that only wants a few plants to meet their medicinal needs - one might purchase three different strains one starts from clones. For example: Get an indica dominant Blue Dream, a Sativa dominate OG, and a mixed strain Sour Diesel. Or do-it the old-fashioned way, get a bunch of seeds from different friends and start'em out doors. Mix it up; have fun!
Growing different strains assure one that the probability of total devastation is greatly reduced. Plus, its just fun to see how different strains and genes work in your plants; a true education. Traditional growers have known this fo ever, since the dawn of cannabis cultivation. Breed a lot; Keep the strong; maintain diversity for that coming blight on the horizon.
Unfortunately in today’s world - where many are in cities and detached from nature - we are not connected enough to see the errors of our ways. One probable reason why you are prudently seeking knowledge by reading this article. Its easy just to go to the clone shop and get a bunch of what you like. However, get'en one flavor has the potential for disaster...for when a single MONO-CULTURED plant in a grow room goes south; the others are inevitably: soon to follow. Your once lush tropical island goes barren and bleak.
Good Luck, and if you have the time, enjoy reading Darwin’s book - while you grow your “cannabis origins.”
Peace Be With You Always,
calibuzz
Mono-culture disaster
By calibuzz - 30 year grower
What does Charles Darwin's Origin of Species, Monsanto, and your grow room have in common?
Answer: Extinction.
Yes, its time to put on our thinking caps and get as advanced as we can - in our goal to grow healthy Medical Cannabis.
Charles Darwin was one of the first persons to note that species change through natural selection. In short terms: every living organism is a little different - by virtue of genes. Some genes promote good health in differing conditions. An example might be: Some cacti live in bright light, other succulent cacti do well in shade, and amongst those two types of cactus, even amongst the same species, some can take drier conditions, some can take wetter conditions. It depends on the individual’s genes. Some die; some thrive - based upon environmental factors.
Charles Darwin noted that every species must adapt or go extinct - the Natural Law.
Not all follow that natural law, including giant agro-corporations, and even indoor cannabis growers.
A few years back, Monsanto, in the goal to corner the market on things like soybeans, started messing with genes. The corporation produced soybean that were all genetically identical, reacting only to their pesticides and fertilizers. BAD IDEA!
The results of identical genes or MONO-CULTURED plants, is that if one gets sick...they all get sick. There is little or no natural diversity to assure that some will survive a change in conditions. Thus, monoculture plants are susceptible to extinction on a grand scale.
"So?" you say.
CLONES: Some indoor growers are fixated on only one strain. They grow a lot of plants with the same genes. This means if one plant in the room gets a mold, fungus, bug, is over watered, too hot or too cold, etc., the others are likely soon to follow. Whole grow rooms can suddenly fail. MONO CULTURING cannabis is a really bad idea.
In my grow op, I work in line with the principals suggested by Charles Darwin and other cutting edge genetic science, by making sure that I have at least ten different strains in my room at any time.
Given this strategy, when infestations or disease strike out-of–the-blue, some plants species will weaken while others are unaffected or less affected. Additionally, as each room is different, the differences in genes ( like percentage Indica genes to Sativa genes in mixed strains) typically leads to one or two plants really thriving in your own grow-room conditions. Yet beware, as if you only clone those that do well, you are back in the same monocultral situation.
For the serious grower, diversity is key. I would advocate that all growers breed their stocks regularly to enhance diversity and to produce superior and resistant strains. For the home grower that only wants a few plants to meet their medicinal needs - one might purchase three different strains one starts from clones. For example: Get an indica dominant Blue Dream, a Sativa dominate OG, and a mixed strain Sour Diesel. Or do-it the old-fashioned way, get a bunch of seeds from different friends and start'em out doors. Mix it up; have fun!
Growing different strains assure one that the probability of total devastation is greatly reduced. Plus, its just fun to see how different strains and genes work in your plants; a true education. Traditional growers have known this fo ever, since the dawn of cannabis cultivation. Breed a lot; Keep the strong; maintain diversity for that coming blight on the horizon.
Unfortunately in today’s world - where many are in cities and detached from nature - we are not connected enough to see the errors of our ways. One probable reason why you are prudently seeking knowledge by reading this article. Its easy just to go to the clone shop and get a bunch of what you like. However, get'en one flavor has the potential for disaster...for when a single MONO-CULTURED plant in a grow room goes south; the others are inevitably: soon to follow. Your once lush tropical island goes barren and bleak.
Good Luck, and if you have the time, enjoy reading Darwin’s book - while you grow your “cannabis origins.”
Peace Be With You Always,
calibuzz
