Professor Marijuana
New Member
Time to Grow Column
T
his installment fits my
column’s title perhaps
better than any other. I am
departing from our grow
room studies this month
because as we all know,
for outdoor gardeners,
it’s “Time to Grow.” We’ll
return to the grow room
next month.
column’s title perhaps
better than any other. I am
departing from our grow
room studies this month
because as we all know,
for outdoor gardeners,
it’s “Time to Grow.” We’ll
return to the grow room
next month.
“It’s just a weed”
I’ve heard that so many
times I could die. What
separates great growers
from those who play at
cultivating are statements
like that? We’ve all heard
them, “hang the bud
upside down so the resin
will flow to the tip”, “cut
your clones underwater”,
and of course “it’s just a
weed.”
times I could die. What
separates great growers
from those who play at
cultivating are statements
like that? We’ve all heard
them, “hang the bud
upside down so the resin
will flow to the tip”, “cut
your clones underwater”,
and of course “it’s just a
weed.”
K
nowledge about Cannabis and
what makes it grow will pay off
in spades. Growers who harvest
a half pound from their efforts
are often thrilled. Personally that
sized yield after half a year’s efforts
would throw the Professor into a
deep depression. In my younger
days back in the “Green Triangle,”
I yielded 128 ounces from a single
plant, a sight to relish. Colorado’s
climate doesn’t allow for plants
of that size, but with some preplanning
and attention you can still
achieve impressive yields.
what makes it grow will pay off
in spades. Growers who harvest
a half pound from their efforts
are often thrilled. Personally that
sized yield after half a year’s efforts
would throw the Professor into a
deep depression. In my younger
days back in the “Green Triangle,”
I yielded 128 ounces from a single
plant, a sight to relish. Colorado’s
climate doesn’t allow for plants
of that size, but with some preplanning
and attention you can still
achieve impressive yields.
W
hen growing outdoors you
only get one shot, so pay
attention and educate yourself on
just what makes for larger yields.
Three major factors directly affect
how successful you will be with
your outdoor crops. With a little
help from Mother Nature and this
bit of info an entire year’s medicine
can easily be accomplished in a
single grow.
only get one shot, so pay
attention and educate yourself on
just what makes for larger yields.
Three major factors directly affect
how successful you will be with
your outdoor crops. With a little
help from Mother Nature and this
bit of info an entire year’s medicine
can easily be accomplished in a
single grow.
P
ut on your thinking caps and
take in this knowledge. As I said,
there are three major factors that
will directly impact the size of your
yield. First is the amount of light,
and fortunately the big light bulb
in the sky has you covered there.
Remember though, to pick a place
that will receive as much daylight
as possible without displaying to
all the neighbors your choice of
herbs.
take in this knowledge. As I said,
there are three major factors that
will directly impact the size of your
yield. First is the amount of light,
and fortunately the big light bulb
in the sky has you covered there.
Remember though, to pick a place
that will receive as much daylight
as possible without displaying to
all the neighbors your choice of
herbs.
S
econd is the size of the root
ball. Forgetting about soil prep
and depth are in my opinion the
biggest mistakes outdoor growers
make. Get the tiller out or go rent
one if needed and dig as deep as
you can. Make sure your soil is like
a cactus blend you find in bagged
soil. Cannabis doesn’t like wet feet
so a mixture that allows the water
to drain is always best. Any extra
soil that has been tilled allows for
a raised bed and bigger root balls.
Remember, the roots grow when
they are searching for water so
don’t drown them, make the roots
chase the water.
ball. Forgetting about soil prep
and depth are in my opinion the
biggest mistakes outdoor growers
make. Get the tiller out or go rent
one if needed and dig as deep as
you can. Make sure your soil is like
a cactus blend you find in bagged
soil. Cannabis doesn’t like wet feet
so a mixture that allows the water
to drain is always best. Any extra
soil that has been tilled allows for
a raised bed and bigger root balls.
Remember, the roots grow when
they are searching for water so
don’t drown them, make the roots
chase the water.
T
hird and of enormous
importance here in Colorado is
the Strain you’re growing. Anyone
who grew up here or has children
can attest to our almost guaranteed
Halloween snow. Cannabis Sativa
will take nearly twice as long to
flower than Cannabis Indica and
will also yield about half as much.
Indoor growers know to set their
lights to a 12/12 schedule when
flowering. The reason for that
is to replicate the Fall Equinox,
September 22nd (the Professor’s
Birthday oddly enough). This tells
Cannabis it is time to flower so it
can reproduce, which leaves only
a month or so before the chill of
winter starts to sneak in. This is not
nearly long enough for Sativas to
flower or even most Indicas for that
matter.
Be prepared to cover your plants
when cold weather is in the
forecast to allow your crop to
mature. Cannabis produces about
80 percent of its trichomes in the
last two weeks of flowering; a crop
that is harvested a week early will
be almost half its normal strength.
These simple rules will make the
entire difference; Light, Root ball,
and Strain. Spending the time to
Google the “FIM” technique of
topping will be time well spent
as well. Simple things are the
difference between good growers
and great growers. Good Luck and
remember you can always ask me
questions at
importance here in Colorado is
the Strain you’re growing. Anyone
who grew up here or has children
can attest to our almost guaranteed
Halloween snow. Cannabis Sativa
will take nearly twice as long to
flower than Cannabis Indica and
will also yield about half as much.
Indoor growers know to set their
lights to a 12/12 schedule when
flowering. The reason for that
is to replicate the Fall Equinox,
September 22nd (the Professor’s
Birthday oddly enough). This tells
Cannabis it is time to flower so it
can reproduce, which leaves only
a month or so before the chill of
winter starts to sneak in. This is not
nearly long enough for Sativas to
flower or even most Indicas for that
matter.
Be prepared to cover your plants
when cold weather is in the
forecast to allow your crop to
mature. Cannabis produces about
80 percent of its trichomes in the
last two weeks of flowering; a crop
that is harvested a week early will
be almost half its normal strength.
These simple rules will make the
entire difference; Light, Root ball,
and Strain. Spending the time to
Google the “FIM” technique of
topping will be time well spent
as well. Simple things are the
difference between good growers
and great growers. Good Luck and
remember you can always ask me
questions at
Dana K May
by Dana May
HEALTH
