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WHERE IN EUROPE CAN YOU USE MARIJUANA LEGALLY? While medical marijuana is becoming more available in Europe, cannabis remains illegal in most EU countries for personal use.

Germany moved one step closer to becoming the second EU country after Malta to legalise cannabis for recreational use in a move that could influence other countries to follow suit.

But across most of Europe, cannabis remains illegal and some EU countries still have legal penalties that include jail time for possession of marijuana.

And while some countries are running pilot programmes for medical marijuana, which is increasingly accessible across the bloc, some say the European market has been slower to grow than the United States or Canada.

MARIJUANA PIONEERS Malta currently has the most tolerant laws in the EU concerning the cultivation, consumption and possession of cannabis.

Adults may carry up to 7 g of cannabis and grow up to four plants at home based on legislation passed in 2021. Smoking marijuana in public,

however, is still prohibited. Germany could soon have the most lenient laws in the bloc, however, as the country’s cabinet approved plans to legalise the possession of 25 g of cannabis for personal use and growing up to three plants. This legislation still needs to be voted on by lawmakers in the Bundestag.

While the Netherlands is often seen as relaxed on marijuana, the cultivation, sale and possession of drugs is illegal. Its sale is “tolerated” in the country’s famous coffee shops with the possession of no more than 5 g of cannabis also decriminalised.

Cannabis has been decriminalised in Portugal since 2001, with the consumption and possession of small amounts treated as an administrative offence and in Spain, private consumption is not prohibited but is considered an offence in public, punishable by fines.

In Luxembourg, private consumption is tolerated as well as the cultivation of four cannabis plants as of this year with possession of cannabis in public decriminalised.

PILOT PROGRAMMES FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA Cannabis for medical use has become increasingly available in European countries but the market is still being developed.

Some countries have launched public pilot programmes that could lead to more access to medical marijuana, which has been demonstrated in several studies to have some therapeutic benefits for cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic pain patients among others.

A pilot programme entered into force in Denmark in 2018 to allow doctors to prescribe products that were not previously legal in the country.

In Ireland, a five-year pilot programme was launched in 2019 to facilitate access to cannabis products for medical use. It is for use in patients

with multiple sclerosis, nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy, and severe epilepsy.

France also began a medical cannabis pilot project in 2021 and the government’s medicines agency is currently defining more specific rules for future French production of medical marijuana products.

While medical marijuana can be prescribed by a doctor in many countries, it can remain quite limited as some countries import small amounts of the available medical products or do not have a programme for sourcing them.

Also, while in the Czech Republic and in Germany, patients can be reimbursed for medical cannabis, in other countries, the cost is covered solely by the patient.

Hungary is one of a few EU countries where cannabis is still illegal for both recreational and medical use.

But even in areas where doctors can prescribe medical marijuana, access can be limited.

In Sweden, for instance, recreationally there is no difference between hard and soft drugs meaning cannabis and heroin are classified as narcotics with a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs in the country.

Source: euronews.com

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Advanced Nutrients introduces Sensi Terra

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Runtz Layer Cake Layer by layer, a high potency treat

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Cannabis in Estonia

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Our tests on Sweet Seeds® auto strains

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24

Curing and Storing Your Crop

Mendocino Chanel Kush Medical Seeds www.medicalseeds.net

Products

4

More Grams Several years ago, La Poción del Brujo (manufactured by Cannaboom SL) launched the first and only drying enhancer on the market named ‘More Grams’. This product can be applied during the last two weeks of flowering and allows the buds to lose less weight during the subsequent drying phase. More Grams works by increasing the water retention of the bud (especially in its innermost part) by rehydrating the space between the fibres and allowing this nutrient-rich water to be assimilated in the final phase of flowering. As a result, the organic mass will increase by 10/20% just before cutting, allowing the flower to gain weight and volume, which it will retain until it is completely dry. The composition of More Grams is mainly organic, which allows it to be used even in the last few days just before washing the roots without altering the flower‘s aroma and flavour. During the drying phase, as the days go by, you will notice that the buds become harder and harder and the calyxes merge together, allowing the flower to retain its aroma for a long time and ensuring a perfect and gradual ripening of the trichomes.

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SLIDDERZ This magical stick is made from pure hemp extract, containing 100mg of cannabinoids and ready to be inserted into your joint and boost it to new levels.

Although it looks like a toothpick, this stick is actually not made from wood, the technology behind it is micro-encapsulation. Using this patented technology combined with all natural and plant-based materials they are able to captivate all of the cannabinoids and terpenes into one elegant stick.

Slidderz are currently offering a 58% CBD sticks with 4 different flavors to choose from. These flavors along with the CBD extract are designed to complement your joint and boost it with natural flavor and balanced CBD experience.

PRODUCTS

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Annabis Annabis is empowering your journey to a healthier lifestyle.

They implemented a high content of CBD (600 mg) & CBG (20 mg) in our star products. Your skin is your most precious asset, and it deserves the finest care. Their selection of products for your active life and skincare is produced with the highest quality ingredients. The combination of cannabinoids with colloidal silver together with other natural active substances creates an innovative synergy in the world of hemp.

Annabis bring you unique products of its kind.

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Sensitiva FACE TWO Discover the excellence of Sensitiva FACE TWO, a perfect moisturizing cream for day and night. Ideal for deeply nourishing both young and mature skin while combating the signs of aging. Its formula, enriched with CBD-activated rosehip oil, embodies the harmony between nature and Swiss perfection. The nutrient-rich rosehip oil rejuvenates the skin, while CBD contributes potent antioxidant properties.

The active ingredients penetrate deeply, delivering exceptional results. Treat your skin to the beauty of Swiss Made with Sensitiva FACE TWO cream.

Apply it morning and evening for visibly radiant skin.

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MR. WEEZY TATTOO CREAM Maintain and enhance your tattoos with Mr.Weezy Tattoo Cream. This soothing and protective cream with a neutral pH is the key to flawless tattoos. Its unique formula protects and soothes without greasiness or unwanted stains. What‘s even more important, it‘s fragrance-free to avoid annoying skin reactions. You can use it on freshly done tattoos or on your existing ones. Apply it 2 to 3 times a day on your tattoos for at least a week, both for maintenance and daily care, and you‘ll bring radiance and vitality to your priceless body art.

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Cultivation

6

Advanced Nutrients introduces Sensi Terra, its new exclusive base for Europe A COMPETITIVELY PRICED PRODUCT FOR GROWERS LOOKING TO SAVE MONEY WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON QUALITY With the European market in mind, Advanced Nutrients has developed a product based on its 20 years of experience and research, i.e. a simple, user-friendly base that also provides a higher nutritional value compared to competing products.

When you think of a premium fertiliser brand, Advanced Nutrients comes to mind, as the first choice for growers who want to maximise the genetic potential of their favourite strains.

Given the current situation in the European market, where many growers resort to base fertilisers composed only of salts, Sensi Terra has been launched as the first Advanced Nutrients base exclusively for European growers who want to save money with no compromise on quality. It consists of two components (Sensi Terra One and Sensi Terra Two), and the range is completed with four additives to achieve excellent results with few products.

A RESULT-ORIENTED BASE Unlike other medium-priced bases, Sensi Terra assists the plant during the phase change. Using Sensi Terra Part One is recommended during the growth cycle until the second week of flowering; then growers can switch to Sensi Terra Part Two. As a result of this formulation, plants will

receive the necessary nitrogen supply during the first two weeks of flowering, when the demand for this macro element is highest, as well as a higher dose of phosphorus and potassium to maximise the production of cannabinoids and terpenes at the time when the plant needs a greater supply of these elements.

For this very reason, unlike other cannabis fertilisers, the consumption of both components at the end of the cycle will be similar, so growers only have to choose the format that best suits the size of their crops, 1L, 5L or 10L, for an easy storage and use of our fertilisers.

Another reason that sets this base apart from what is normally found on the market is its stabilised pH range, with lower fluctuations than competing products. It also provides higher levels of micronutrients such as iron and magnesium, which will help growers using LEDs, as the demand for these elements is often higher with luminaires of this type. This is complemented by improved chelates to increase the nutrient uptake and the right salinity level that will provide

Sensi Terra, der neue exklusive Universaldünger für den europäischen Markt, weckt bereits hohe Erwartungen.

exactly what the plant needs without raising electrical conductivity (EC) too high.

On the other hand, the ratio of phosphorus and potassium and the amounts of these macroelements are higher than in other base fertilisers in the same segment, which will produce heavier flowers and a greater amount of cannabinoids without necessarily using additives.

This, of course, comes with the highest quality standards that Advanced Nutrients always uses during the manufacturing process, namely, pharmaceutical-grade raw materials of the highest quality, consistency in the product, traceability of each bottle produced in its facilities in Barcelona, all of which result in the best possible product for a market as demanding and constantly evolving as the European market.

SENSI TERRA AND HAMMERHEAD, AN EXPLOSIVE COMBINATION Sensi Terra has revived a much-loved product among European growers that everyone thought had disappeared, i.e.

Hammerhead, a potent PK that can be used throughout the flowering cycle and makes the buds big and hard. Unlike the other Advanced PK products, it can be used practically from the beginning to the end of flowering, which simplifies growing.

The feeding plan is completed with Sensizym, B-52 and the new Voodoo Juice + effervescent tablets, which contain 16 million Colony Forming Units (CFU) of beneficial bacteria for the roots, as well as endomycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae.

In this way, you will help your plants synthe-

7 JUNGLE JUICE, ONCE AGAIN, THE BEST QUALITY OPTION AT THE BEST PRICE IN THREE-COMPONENT BASE FERTILISERS Jungle Juice, now available at a much more competitive price, is once again the cheapest three-component specific formula for Cannabis on the market.

Over the last few months, the American brand has worked hard to offer this premium quality fertiliser without unwanted excipients and with the purest raw materials you can find on the European market.

You either have the option of growing with a 100% mineral fertiliser, and paying for a

A COMPETITIVELY PRICED PRODUCT FOR GROWERS LOOKING TO SAVE MONEY WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON QUALITY

sise and absorb all of our nutrients while creating a natural barrier against pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium or Pythium. Sensi Terra can be used together with Piranha in liquid form, if you wish to improve this micro-organism cocktail by adding root growth promoting fungi to actively protect the plant against fungal and pathogenic attacks. These include our selected strains of Trichoderma Harzianum and Trichoderma Viride.

Sensi Terra is now available exclusively for the European market and available from local grow shops!

IGUANA JUICE, THE ORGANIC ALTERNATIVE, NOW CHEAPER! Organic growers will be happy to know that they now have a premium fertiliser that compares favourably with classic mineral fertilisers pricewise.

Iguana Juice is now offered at a cheaper price to ensure a 100% organic crop yielding the same quantities that are normally achieved with mineral fertilisers, while bringing out every nuance and depth of terpenes they expect at harvest time.

As it is manufactured in Europe, manufacturing costs have been reduced in order to obtain a product of superior quality for all budgets.

Unlike other organic bases on the market, Iguana Juice is highly concentrated with top quality organic ingredients that are highly soluble when mixed in tanks, while avoiding the sediments caused by other brands on the market and, consequently, possible problems such as clogged drippers in automatic watering systems.

In particular, two inputs make this products unique, i.e. fish protein hydrolysate and soy protein hydrolysate, which contain a source of macro and micronutrients, vitamins and amino acids available for your beloved plants.

This translates into juicy, productive harvests free of heavy metals, chemicals or other toxic residues that would normally remain in the plant without the right nutrients.

Iguana Juice is complemented by the other products in the OG Organics range; Big Bud, Big Mike OG Tea and Ancient Earth, all of which are available in Europe.

complete base fertiliser with additives, such as our premium “PH Perfect”, you have the option of using Jungle Juice as first choice product in the lower priced segment.

In this way, growers looking for excellence to exploit the full potential of their genetics, can complement their feeding plan with additives, such as Bud Factor X or Voodoo+,

without having to opt for higher priced three-component 100% mineral products available on the market.

THE MORE THE BETTER Although the two feeding plans we are talking about in this article only contain the brand’s must-haves, Advanced’s most famous additives will still be available for those who want to take their crop to the next level.

In addition to the well-known Bud Candy, Carboload, Overdrive and Piranha, the classic Big Bud and Bud Blood, which have

provided so much satisfaction to growers in the American market over the years, are now back in powder form and at a very competitive price. These products are particularly suited to those growers who prefer solid solutions in the nutritional plan of their crop, and also wish to reduce the cost per litre of the nutrient solution.

A strain from Barney’s Farm

8

Green Born Identity – G.B.I.

RUNTZ LAYER CAKE LAYER BY LAYER, A HIGH POTENCY TREAT Barney’s Farm is known

The flowering phase sensationally aromatic thick buds with a rich amount of crystals

for having the right touch

Mr. Knolle’s RLC plant stretched a lot and doubled in height during the first three weeks of flowering, after which, numerous clusters of plump, young flowers emerged along the branches and, over the following weeks, developed into sumptuous buds of astonishing size. Surprisingly, they were full of colour. The leaves, and partly also the calyxes of the top and side buds, took on a beautiful dark red-topurple colour.

for Californian West Coast genetics, after creating a host of superb strains of this type on the

After nine weeks of flowering, Mr. Knolle reported: “I didn’t expect this special colouring, so now I am astonished at this fantastic sight.

What’s more, these super-fat, concrete-hard bulbous buds are covered in a huge blanket of frosty trichomes - the great promise of resin abundance from this strain, which ranks among the best on the West Coast, has definitely been fulfilled!

cannabis scene.

With Runtz Layer Cake, the breeders at Barney’s created a particularly richly layered strain whose genetic make-up resembles a glorious all-star team line-up, as the most illustrious names in the Californian dessert strains come together here: Runtz, consisting of Zkittlez and Gelato, was mixed with the quadruple cross Layer Cake ([Wedding Cake x GMO Cookies] x [Cookies Kush x Skunk #1]) – as Barney’s stated.

Contrasting with the dark surface of the leaves and flowers, this opulent stream of crystals shone even brighter. Everywhere there was nothing but thick buds bursting with flowers – I was confident I would break the 100 gram dry mark with this fabulous plant, something I have rarely achieved so far in my growing career. Visually, this strain, which comes with high praise from Barney’s Farm, proved to be a true wonder. I was also impressed by its dazzling and charismatic floral aroma, it had everything Barney’s mentioned - notes of citrus, gas and earth combined with a concentrated sweetness that laces this blend of aromas.”

The result is an ‘impressive’ balanced 50% sativa/50% indica super hybrid with high potency (up to 27% THC), high yields (up to 650g/ m2 indoors), a moderately long flowering time (65-70 days) and a complex gourmet aroma that reflects the best aspects of the parent genetics, with spicy notes of citrus, gas and earth, without lacking a generous amount of sweetness, of course.

Mr. Knolle’s Runtz Layer Cake was fully ripe at the end of the 65-70 day ripening window.

After 65 days, when the plant had reached a final height of 70 cm, he got down to work, took out the scissors, chopped it up, cut the buds and trimmed them, which was really easy for the low bud-to-leaf ratio.

Its potent high is inherited from both sativa and indica. It causes a pleasant relaxation in the body and uplifting effect in the mind that raises the user’s mood. Runtz Layer Cake is an uncomplicated strain, ideal for any grow room.

Its robust and prosperous nature makes it a good choice for beginners too. Specimens reach heights of up to 120 cm indoors. With a fairly early ripening (during the first or second week of October), this strain is also a good candidate for outdoor cultivation. Under optimal conditions, impressive yields of up to 2.5 kilos per plant can be achieved, with a height of about two metres.

An excellent vegetative growth At the time of planning his next growing cycle, Mr Knolle had still room for growing an extra strain in his grow tent. By chance a friend offered him a feminised Runtz Layer Cake seed, which he was glad to accept. So he set to work soon after, and after just under three days a RLC seedling was about to emerge from the

Runtz Layer Cake delivers triple-digit yields of dried buds! soil. Mr. Knolle waited three weeks for the vegetative growth of the strain, during which its grown plant built up a dense, compact layer of branches developed with medium-wide green leaves. At this time, Mr. Knolle drew his first conclusion: “This Runtz Layer Cake plant has shown excellent growth so far and reached a height of 28 cm. Now it is time to put it to flower”.

This time, Mr. Knolle was particularly curious when weighing his dry harvest: would Runtz Layer Cake really break the 100 gram barrier?

To his delight, it more than did and achieved a yield of 108 grams. Mr Knolle commented: “It’s absolutely superb, it’s top quality weed and also gives plenty of buds. The smell, which was already delicious during flowering,

9 has developed to a perfect mix of sweet and slightly spicy aromas captivating the grower’s nose - I could not wait to try it!”

The super potency of Runtz Layer Cake is perceived with only one puff No sooner said than done, Mr. Knolle started his first Runtz Layer Cake tasting session.

The taste he got from the first deep puff he exhaled from his vaporizer captivated his taste buds: “So sweet is the taste that at first you feel like you are sucking vaporised sugar into your mouth, and then, layer by layer, the flavour unfolds in individual notes that tickle your palate, it’s a bit gassy, reminiscent of cloves and black pepper, but also with a refreshing hint of lemon, and while all these flavours are perceived, that immense sweetness lingers on.

In the end, the taste has a hint of liquorice”.

While he was still savouring the first puff, he realised that the effect was already kicking in! Runtz Layer Cake turned out to be a real wonder with just one puff: he felt a pleasant ‘creamy’ feeling that ran up his legs, spread throughout his body and, after a few more clouds of vapour, culminated in a kind of soft warm vibration that caused deep relaxation – it was time to go to the sofa! Mr. Knolle’s mental tension was released and his mood improved noticeably. His view on certain pro-

blematic issues was mitigated and gave way to calm and confident thinking. Runtz Layer Cake then wrapped him in a physical and mental duvet for more than two hours, which meant total relax.

grown, no question about it! I definitely give this gem of cannabis genetics a five star rating in all respects.

Thank you so much for this amazing strain, Barney’s Farm!”

Mr. Knolle’s verdict “Layer by layer a highly potent delight - Runtz Layer Cake is the best strain I have ever

Genetics

Runtz Layer Cake (Runtz x ([Wedding Cake x GMO Cookies] x [Cookies Kush x Skunk #1]))

Vegetative stage

21 days (after germination)

Flowering stage

65 days/ 65-70 days in general

Substrate

Bionova Bio Soilmix, 11-litre pots

pH

6.4-6.7

EC

1.2–1.6 mS

Lighting

Cultivation data:

Green Born Identity - G.B.I.

3x SANlight Q1 y 1 x Q3

Temperature

19-27°C

Air humidity

40-60%

Watering

By hand

Fertilisers

Bionova Soil Supermix, and PK 13-14 during the flowering stage

Additives/boosters

Bionova Silution, The Missing Link, Vitasol and X-cel

Special equipment

CleanLight for the prevention of mould

Height

70 cm

Yield

108 g

Travel Martin Müncheberg

CANNABIS IN ESTONIA

that make it a successful club. We were lucky and got a free table on the roof terrace. When the food arrived, we were already in the middle of a conversation. After-wards, when I lit a joint that I had brought with me, the two young guys got a bit nervous and did not want to take the joint directly. I was supposed to put it in the ashtray, only from there they took it for one or two hasty puffs during the following interview.

Cannabis is illegal in Estonia, but possession of up to 7.5 g is considered a minor quantity and is usually only punishable by a fine. Larger amounts and trafficking in cannabis are

WHAT IS THE SITUATION OF CANNABIS IN ESTONIA - DOES THIS HERB HAVE A CHANCE HERE?

criminal offences and are punishable by prison sentences of up to 5 years.

Gacz: Absolutely.

However, this did not stop us from

Ras P.: We certainly like to smoke some.

visiting this Baltic state once.

Only about 1.3 million citizens live in this Nordic country, which has innovative approaches on many issues. For example, everyone in Estonia has a state-guaranteed right to free high-speed internet access. The Estonians have therefore long been very familiar with the World Wide Web - parents can, for example, view their children’s marks on the school computer - and to elect a new government, the ballot can also be cast eletronically.

The capital and economic centre is Tallinn (‘Reval’ in German), and with 400,000 inhabitants this is also the largest city in the country.

For centuries, both names were common, but today Tallinn has finally prevailed. About 40% of Tallinn’s inhabitants are Russian, compared to a national average of 26 % - so, it is not surprising that you often hear snatches of Russian conversation on the street. Many tourists choose the country and its capital as a destination for their holidays. Among the various attractions that make a holiday here worthwhile are coasts and beaches with no trace of human pres-ence, vast areas of natural forests and many hidden gems such as the border fortresses of Narva and Ivangorod (Russia), which are directly facing each other, and the ant kingdom of Akste. Here, more than 3 billion ants bustle on 20 hectares of forest.

Huge anthills pile up every few metres, some of which almost as high as a man. The habitat of these ants is an enchanted forest whose only rule is ‘standing still is forbidden’.

There is construction everywhere in Estonia and about half of all registered vehicles are German luxu-ry cares. Similarly, the number and size of dreamlike villas are somewhat dis-

10

HOW LEGAL IS IT IN ESTONIA?

concerting. Beggars are rarely seen. It is even rarer to see dark-skinned people, and national policy seems to keep it that way. The oddest thing we say during our two-week visit to Estonia was the arrival of four men at an ‘Ameri-can Car Event’. All four wore the white robes of the Ku Klux Klan and were cheered by the other guests. Based on this previous experience, the sight of skinheads with ‘Estonia forever’ patches was no surprise. National pride seems to manifest itself in very odd manners here.

After all, cannabis is Estonia’s most popular illegal stimulant. About 13% of the population consume this plant in some form – putting Estonia in 28th place on the global list of cannabis-consuming countries. Nev-ertheless, the Estonian Minister of the Interior declared in 2021 that they were not yet ready to legalise cannabis. So the herb remains banned for

recreational use, but is often tolerated. Consumption, pur-chase or possession of small amounts (up to 7.5 g) is a minor offence punishable by a fine of between 800 and 1200 euros.

Theoretically, offenders may even end up in prison, although this happens quite seldom.

We had already discovered how difficult it was to get any RYO papers here, even short ones. Finally, we discovered short red rizlas at a ‘kiosk’, which was better than nothing. So we were able to con-sume a few joints after all. Finally, we had an appointment: with Ras P. (38) and Gacz (27), two insid-ers from the local reggae scene. We met them on Tallinn’s market square and immediately realised how beneficial the contact with locals was, because the two of them took us straight to the ‘African Kitchen’. This very cosy shop not only offers delicious food, but is also a place where the finest reg-gae music is played – two reasons

Ras P.: If you have less than 8 g you will only be punished by a fine. But quantities of more than 8 g make you a drug dealer and therefore a criminal. That can quickly land you behind bars. Just like cultivation – a single plant in your flat makes you liable to imprisonment.

Gacz: A friend of mine was caught with only 5 g of weed and had to pay a fine of 2000 kroner (about 120 euros). The police just don’t understand that stoners are peaceful and harmless people. They simply think that one thing leads to another and, therefore, which makes the use of all illegal drugs prosecutable.

Ras P.: Exactly, they treat potheads the same as cokeheads or speed junkies. It does not make any difference to them. This theory is also disseminated by our mass media. There is simply too little fac-tual information about drugs and drug use here.

WHERE DOES THE WEED AVAILABLE HERE COME FROM? Ras P.: A few years ago, most black market weed came from domestic production. It was very good quality, but then there was a large-scale nationwide police operation where almost all the illegal crops were discovered and dismantled. This was then sensationalised on television and celebrated as a great success and, since then, there is almost only foreign stuff.

Gacz: Today, there are three or four really big dealers who bring the stuff into the country and then distribute it further. Unfortunately, the quality varies a lot – you have to know the right people to get really good weed. The best

11

Higher THC. Bigger Yields. you can often get is Spanish outdoor grown cannabis. On the street, a gram costs about 250 crowns (about 15 euros) – it has become quite expensive.

Ras P.: That’s understandable – since the political situation is so tough today and there is hardly any Estonian home grower left. The price has risen with the demand.

GREAT, WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT EARLIER – THERE ARE HARDLY ANY REASONABLE RYO PAPERS HERE. Ras P.: In our country, there are no head shops or grow shops here – it’s all still hidden.

SO IS SMOKING POT HERE MORE FOR RICH PEOPLE?

IN TALLINN, I HAVE NOTICED YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DREADLOCKS FROM TIME TO TIME. IS THAT MORE OF A FASHIONA-BLE OUTFIT OR DO YOU ALSO HAVE RELIGIOUS RASTAFARIANS IN ESTONIA?

Ras P.: Not at all – cocaine is rather a drug for nouveaux riches here, while cannabis is from time to time used by about ten per cent of the population, who tend to be the lower income groups.

Ras P.: I think it’s just a fashion - I don’t know any real followers of the Rastafarian religion.

There are some who are serious about it, but they only believe themselves to be ‘real’ Rastafarians. I don’t.

DO YOU CONSUME POT DAILY?

Gacz: Me neither.

Gacz: When I have some, yes, but every now and then I take a longer break.

HOWEVER, I SAW SKINHEADS MUCH MORE OFTEN THAN DREADLOCKS – IN HAAPSAALU, I EVEN SAW FOUR GUYS IN FULL KU KLUX KLAN CLOTHING. DO YOU FEEL THAT ESTONIAN SOCIETY TENDS TO BE RACIST?

Ras P.: Sometimes every day, then not at all for a few weeks – depending on how it suits me.

DO PEOPLE ACTUALLY CONSUME MORE WEED OR HASHISH HERE? Gacz: Primarily weed, although hash is much easier to get and much cheaper. The quality, however, leaves a lot to be desired at around 100 crowns (about 6.50 euros) per gram.

Ras P.: Really good hash is hard to find in Estonia.

Gacz: Absolutely – it’s partly because of our national culture and partly because of a lack of knowledge. Indeed, those who know little are often racist. Maybe it is not so noticeable in Tallinn, but where I live there are a lot of people who are extremely racist. I live in a prefab building settlement on the outskirts of Tallinn, that’s just how it is – some of my best pals are also latently racist. Unfortunate-ly there’s nothing you can do about it.

Gacz: I would even say it’s impossible to find it.

TELL ME ABOUT THE CULTIVATION OF COMMERCIAL HEMP IN ESTONIA. THERE ARE NOW A WHOLE RANGE OF THC-FREE HEMP PRODUCTS HERE TOO. Ras P.: In Estonia there is even a village called Kanepi (Kanep = hemp) - after all, there was a long tradition of hemp cultivation here. But that’s over now – the government still bans it.

However, there are some attempts to reconsider this in the near future.

Gacz: You can only find local commercial hemp in the museums here, after all, for centuries all ship ropes were woven from hemp. It was simply the best material.

Ras P.: Anyway, it is now allowed to trade in hemp textiles and hemp cosmetics in Estonia.

I know at least one shop that sells such things.

By the way, they have also had OCB (organic RYO hemp pa-per) for a long time.

Ras P.: Even though we are good friends, I often have to disagree with him. But actually our immigra-tion policy is so strict that I can really say I know all the dark-skinned Estonians personally. There are only about 10 people who all live here in Tallinn.

Gacz: Anyhow, there are no laws against racism – so, for most Estonians, Hitler is just a pop icon like Einstein or Che Guevara.

For all those who are also heading for Estonia, here are a few useful internet addresses:

www.bashment.ee (coolest reggae club in the country) www.africankitchen.ee (non-stop good food and reggae) www.eksootika.ee (the only shop in Tallinn selling hemp textiles - and long RYO papers )

WWW.ROYALQUEENSEEDS.COM

Differences between grow rooms

By Robert B.

Every grow room is different

12

Growers know each other in real or digital life and exchange tips. Each has good ideas to share. It may happen that those who follow these tips may be later disappointed. Air pots – which favour root oxygenation – can certainly been excellent for plant growth in wet cellars. But perhaps the same cannot be said for particularly warm and dry grow rooms with southern exposure. Should a special soil be chosen for air pots as is normally done for other pot types and growing systems?

A great tip can only work in the right context, otherwise it will even be counterproductive.

When ideas are exchanged, a grower may receive a great deal of information. But it is also appropriate to think over the information received and assess whether it makes sense for your own situation. For this very reason, different grow room locations will be discussed, each with their own characteristics. These characteristics, however, should not be considered typical of every cellar or attic but should be considered as a general reference.

- CELLARS Cellars present the great advantage of being cooler in summer, and can be easily ventilated using internal air, or air coming from a fresh spot in the shadow of trees. In winter, it is also fairly easier to heat them up compared to uninsulated attics, where snow melting on the roof may suggest that plants should be moved away at once.

What is more, in summer, cellars can be kept at a temperature range of 22 to 26°C during light hours. Heat can be generated through warm NDL lamps and ventilation can be ensured through an efficient fan system. In Winter, instead, a heating system is required. A gas heater for indoor use with thermostat control will create low, constant ventilation. But gas bottles have to be changed regularly. The gas line connected to the heater should fastened tightly by pliers to ensure that the right pressure is kept in the pipe. Combustion also generates humidity. But this is not a problem since, if the room is kept warm enough, it will also be more ventilated and moisture will be carried away. With no ventilation, instead, humidity will remain in the room and mould will develop.

A cellar is also an ideal room for growing with air pots and light soil and does not require much

Even here, a grow room can be set up and operated.

irrigation. A disadvantage is that air flows out at ground level, which generates a hum that will be heard in the rest of the house, unless the fan is really quiet. Without soundproofing in the ground floor of the house, a humming fan, which may also let some odour through at some point, could be very annoying.

- ATTICS Even with an insulated roof structure, a grow room under the roof is more exposed to severe overheating in summer and excessive cooling in winter. Good LEDs could be a good choice for summer, and NDL lighting systems for winter.

However, winter heating could be ensured by a gas heater is as described above.

In an attic, space can only be optimised if the roof is flat. With a sloping roof, instead, the cultivation space will be reduced.

In addition, in an attic, the choice of pots and soil may change depending on the season, consi-

dering that there is more evaporation during summer than in winter.

In these rooms, depending on the situation, it may be difficult to draw in cool fresh air in summer. Of course, it is preferable to choose a room looking northwards or in the shadow. To that end, a slight fan noise or minimal odours caused by ventilation will be less disturbing.

- FLATS FACING NORTH A flat facing north is a win-win situation. Humidity is less of a problem than in cellars and more stable temperatures can be achieved than under a roof. Cool air can be drawn in to keep the temperature down in summer. Cooler LED lamps can be used, if the temperature gets too high. Possibly, you can decide to light the grow room partly with LED lamps and partly with NDL lamps to make sure that the right temperature is reached and not exceeded. If the flat is not on the ground floor, expelling air from the house is quite easy.

- FLATS FACING SOUTH The south side of a building tends to overheat in summer causing strong evaporation. Air pots with light soil will quickly dry out. Of course, heat may not be as high as in a grow room placed under the roof but still be a problem. LED lamps would be preferable here, at least for the summer, and could also be kept on at night It can make a very big difference if at least fresh air can be drawn in from the north side, whereas in winter the difference between north side and south side would not be great.

- A MACHINE ROOM You need not necessarily use a machine room but, let us say, there are rooms in industrial buildings, farmhouses or other locations that can be rented or used. Because of their openspace configuration and high ceilings, machine rooms are usually very cool in summer. In winter, instead, they can get cold and heating the whole

13 in that position, pressure on the top and sides should be avoided.

These and, perhaps, log cabins for gardens are other useful options for grow rooms, and can be easily ventilated with air coming from a shady spot. In winter, you can use heaters if the temperature is too low. Of course, great care must be taken not to burn everything down with the heater in such a confined space. Sodium vapour lamps may be a good choice for winter, as they are warmer and fulfil the dual function of lighting and warming up the space.

You can also use second-hand objects as ‘decorative elements’ or even a covering platform to conceal the container in your garden.

- OLD BUNKERS A grow room in the open air.

room may be costly. This can be remedied by installing a couple of plasterboard walls or a plasterboard ceiling, if you are a skilled DIY enthusiast.

Of course, plasterboard is not the only solution.

Another possible option is oriented strand board (OSB). Again, air can be drawn in from a cool part of the building and a gas heating system can be installed. The choice between LED and NDL lights can also make a difference. If the room is large enough, you can fit diesel tanks for a power generator and produce electricity without being dependent on the power grid.

If the machine room does not overheat in summer, it might help to place fast-growing plants on the south side or, however, create a shadowy spot.

structural materials do not have to be weatherproof or carry heavy loads, you can therefore set up a grow room in one of these open barns without spending much money. As long as you do not grow plants in winter, you should be able to get by with modular grow tents.

Open barns are normally cool in summer. In winter, they are not affected by moulds (normally due to air humidity). However. for the benefit of your plants, you will need to set up a heating system in order to favour ventilation and, in turn, reduce air humidity. Make sure no unauthorised person gets close to this open barn, that the fan with the carbon filter effectively removes the smell, and that the snow remains on the roof in winter.

Hardly anyone will have an old bunker that is not accessible to unauthorised persons. However, you could also build your own bunker. Digging in your garden and laying foundations will of course attract attention. However, exhibition construction companies or other event organisers offer quick-build and light-weight structures for rent that can be assembled and used as halls. Large tents can also be rented for parties or for use as temporary storage spaces. These structures will provide you with the space and quiet you need for your excavation and construction work to go unnoticed. Of course, you should not excavate right up to the sides of the structure, but bear in mind that the side walls may slide down.

Another option is building a deep pool to be later covered by a flat roof that can be vegetated. Maybe, mobile silos for forage maize placed flush with the ground are yet another possibility.

- OLD CATTLE-SHEDS OR PIGPENS WITH EXHAUST FANS Flat-roofed cattle-sheds or pigpens with fans on the roof are quite common in the countryside.

Today’s exhaust fans efficiently draw air out, but cannot be used for a grow room, as no activated coal filter can be fitted in between to remove the plant smell. It is normally the wind that carries away the air and, with it, the smell.

- WINTER GARDENS OR GREENHOUSES Growing in a winter garden or greenhouse can avoid high electricity bills under certain circumstances. In both cases, your plants will receive sun from the east and south. If you use artificial light for your plants, the brightness of your lamps will be such as to make your crop noticeable even at long distances.

In a winter garden or greenhouse, the temperature and humidity levels can be somewhat adjusted by heating or ventilation to create good conditions for your plants. When this happens with auto-flowering plants, even two or three harvests per year are possible. Otherwise, you will only harvest once. However, you should avoid planting marijuana in the internal garden of a block of flats or, however, one that is visible from outside in the street, where smell can also be perceived. That would be a fatal error for your crop.

- IN GARDENS If you have a few good spots in your garden with sun, good soil and enough water, you can plant your hemp outdoors and harvest rich plants in autumn. The prerequisite for this is having strains suited for outdoor growing, which will be ready by the end of September, if possible.

Even if plants are well concealed, their smell could still be perceived at flowering time and beyond.

This means that the garden should not border on public paths or ‘wrong’ neighbours’ properties.

Even the right people sometimes receive the wrong visitors and visitors have noses.

IN CONCLUSION The above suggestions are only a few of the typical and atypical ways to grow marijuana in a hidden location. Of course, the list is incomplete as, e.g., a cellar of one building may differ completely from that of another.

The exhaust fans of these and other cattle sheds, instead, are particularly suitable for air extraction.

They are extremely powerful. In addition, they can be integrated with carbon filters and filtered air can be drawn directly out of the shed.

Old sheds tend to be cool inside, and only overheat in summer for the heat released by animals.

If the shed is not cool enough, you may decide to create a shadowy spot with vegetation, which can go unnoticed, on its south side.

old bunker, you should make sure that it is not in danger of collapsing and that it is suitable for your project. If no intake and exhaust fans can be installed, the project will be doomed to failure from the outset.

If you know how to evaluate a room, you can figure out in advance whether you will use it at all and how to do that. Many rooms are virtually unusable. Far too often, with the right approach in each room, good marijuana can be grown.

The ideal growing spaces are those in cool locations that can be easily ventilated.

- OPEN BARNS Normally barns are covered by simple roofs, their walls are not even windproof, and also include open sides. These open sides can be partially protected by boards and used to build a grow box. Boards can be lighttight, but still let draughts through. However, if corrugated metal sheets or other cheap structural panels are used, these grow spaces can be both lightproof and windproof.

If you want to use open barns as grow rooms in winter as well, you should insulate their walls and create a front room for air conditioning. As long as

- CONSTRUCTION-SITE TRAILERS OR CONTAINERS There are people who live in construction-site trailers. Containers or railway carriages are also used as dwellings. Why not use them to grow marijuana? Their walls provide sufficient insulation. Their space is small, which means no much heating is required. If you own a large plot of land, perhaps you may choose whether to place a container in full sun or in the shadow of a tree.

There are growers who place their containers flush with the ground to conceal them. However,

In each case, you will have an underground grow room with a roof on top that can be vegetated.

So, your plants will be grown in a bunker below ground level.

In all three situations, you will benefit from a cool space in summer. In winter, however, you would have to heat it up and ventilate it to remove air humidity.

While your bunker is under construction, make sure that nothing goes wrong. If it does, you will have trouble explaining it. If you are using an

Air pots with light soil are more suitable for cooler and more humid rooms.

Medical Cannabis

14

Sebastian Daniel

Cannabis For Addictions Physicians and scientists have shown for decades that cannabis can be an effective treatment for people

addicted to heroin, cocaine, nicotine, and especially alcohol. Not only as a substitute (smoking), but even as a one-time treatment (more potent edibles or extracts administered orally).

Anthropologist Sara Benetowa (also known as Sula Benet) wrote in 1936 that cannabis extracts had long been used by European peasants „to cure drunkards.“ She also noted that it was hemp that for centuries had prepared the ground in Europe for a new and exotic drug: tobacco from America. Shortly before the 2nd World War, hemp incense was often burned at the bedsides of old and sick people (thus reducing the danger or effects of stroke).

So effective as medicine, according to our ancestors, were local strains of European hemp, which supposedly was only „for industrial use.“ Today‘s potent strains of „Dutch marihuana“ can sometimes be effective even in the most hopeless cases of chemical addictions and help people already standing with one foot in the grave.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, cannabis was often touted by doctors as a highly effective treatment for alcohol and opiate addiction.

In 1971, the American Journal of Psychiatry published an article calling cannabis treatment „the most effective form of therapy“ for alcoholism.

It is worth noting here that cannabis medicines in the form of, for example, an extract, a drink or a food, are much more effective, but also more intense in their psychological effects.

And while cannabis is an extremely safe drug biologically (it‘s easier to overdose on water or food), the psychedelic experience can be quite strong.

It is impossible to overdose on cannabis with fatal results, but it is possible to fall into a long and deep sleep, often lasting up to a dozen hours. However, symptoms of toxicity, or so-called hangover, are usually not observed upon awakening. On the contrary, sleep is described by patients as healthy and restorative. Doctors once praised cannabis as the best sleep remedy for alcoholic delirium tremens. Cannabis is remarkably effective in treating insomnia, tremors, depression and other symptoms of alcoholism, along with regenerating the brain and other major organs.

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash.

Cannabis reduces cravings for alcohol and other drugs, and eases withdrawal symptoms.

Smoking cannabis is often seen as a daily substitute for drinking alcohol. Even as a substitute for other drugs and medicines that are more toxic and addictive, from a medical perspective, cannabis use is a good example of harm reduction. Patients experience relief from and a reduction in the damage done to their lives by the far more dangerous drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, heroin, etc.

Gateway or Exit Drug?

The link between marijuana and hard drugs like heroin is not biological or physical from a medical point of view: it is a criminal and sociocultural link, which can be easily removed by lifting its prohibition.

Research shows that it is actually cigarettes and alcohol that serve as a „gateway“ to other drugs, and it is these substances that people use before moving on to the use of marijuana, cocaine and other banned drugs; a progression known as the „drug gate sequence.“ Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center and the Mailman School of Public Health presented the first molecular explanation of the gateway sequence in 2011. Nicotine causes specific changes in the brain that make us more susceptible to cocaine addiction.

This significantly alters the body‘s response

to cocaine in terms of addictive behavior and synaptic plasticity. At the molecular level, nicotine also induces the brain to use cocaine by inhibiting the activity of an important enzyme. Data shows that most people addicted to cocaine were already addicted to tobacco.

People who try cocaine after they have started smoking tobacco have an increased risk of addiction compared to people who first used cocaine and then started smoking tobacco.

fewer use heroin. In fact, cannabis helps keep people away from hard drugs – despite the fact that buying marijuana on the black market makes it easier to get in touch with other illegal substances. David E. Smith, an expert in addiction medicine and founder of HaightAshbury Free Clinics in San Francisco, was one of the first researchers to point out that it is in fact the lack of access to legal marijuana that opens the floodgates to hard drugs.

Science supports the „first step“ hypothesis, but there is a shift from legal substances, especially alcohol and tobacco, to illegal ones. Researchers suggest that delaying alcohol initiation will have a beneficial effect on the susceptibility to addiction of younger generations. Comparing data of drinking and non-drinking high school students, researchers have found that students who had consumed alcohol at least once in their early lives were 13 times more likely to use cigarettes or cocaine.

Experts have shown that, in reality, it is participating in the black market created by prohibition that is the gateway to more dangerous behavior.

The illegality of cannabis exposes its users to temptation: a dealer usually has many other types of illegal drugs and can ask customers if they want anything else.

Medical research and historical data suggest that cannabis reduces the risk of drug use in both individuals and entire societies. Operation Intercept, the 1969 blockade of the border with Mexico, led to a marijuana shortage in the U.S. in 1969 and may have contributed to the highprofile heroin epidemic in the months and years that followed.

There are no properties of cannabis medicine that can push its user towards trying another drug or medicine. According to a report by the US National Academy of Sciences, „there is no evidence that marijuana serves as an introduction to hard drugs .... In fact, most drug users did not start their use with marijuana they started with alcohol and nicotine.“ Only 1 in 104 marijuana users use cocaine and even

Each successful war effort against marijuana has been accompanied by an increase in alcoholism and the use of other dangerous drugs.

Growing

15

With Stoney Tark

10 TOP TIPS FOR GROWING

THE BIGGEST AND BEST TASTING BUDS As a beginner grower, it is a good idea to develop habits which will not only improve the yield, taste and aroma of your Cannabis buds, but will also significantly enhance your experience as a grower. Everyone dreams of growing the best crop possible with flavours that your friends compliment you about every time they see and smoke your buds. In this article, I provide 10 tips to help you on your way to producing top shelf flower and blowing the competition out of the water.

organic liquid feeds is the best way to do so.

You can still produce incredible flowers using coco and even rockwool, however working with a top quality soil will pay off massively when it comes to harvest time. You will have to take a loss on the yield side, however it is well worth it and also the easiest way for a first time grower to learn the ropes.

Top tip #3 - Prune the canopy Removing leaves and smaller side branches off your plants, is a very effective way of increasing yields, by allowing the plants to only focus on producing a top-heavy canopy. Air flow will improve, and undeveloped smaller buds will not long grow where you have pruned. I am a big fan of pruning and also recommend performing this technique a week before changing your timer to 12/12.

Top tip #4 - Big yielding genetics

L.S.T is a form of plant training which, when applied at the right time, will allow plants to become more bushy, dense and vigorous looking.

Low stress technique not only increases yields and the number of potential flowering sites, the final plant height will be reduced, making L.S.T ideal for growers with limited space indoors.

One way to guarantee you will have a record-breaking harvest is to invest in large yielding genetics. Solid yielding plants, combined with training techniques and nutrients, will always create a positive outcome and allow you to keep your curing jars full to the brim until the next harvest. My tip here for a beginner grower is to spend the time to research different strains and see which are classed as big yielding plants, and take a look to see how easy or difficult they are described as growing.

Top tip #2 - Soil and compost

Top tip #5 - Organic compost teas

If you really want the best tasting flower in my opinion, then using soil and compost, with

This tip is for those who are willing to take their organic grow game to the next level. Aerated compost teas involve using an air pump, air stone and water source to brew the tea for a 24-hour duration. The reason for an entire day for the tea to brew is down to the beneficial microorganisms, bacteria and fungi present.

Adding aerated compost tea to your garden during the early and middle stages of 12/12 will produce some amazing flavours once smoked.

Top tip #1 - Low stress technique

Top tip #6 - Super cropping A very easy to perform plant training technique, that causes plants to send growth repair hormones to the treated branches. As a result of super cropping, the growth structure, resilience and resistance enhances, as well as yields. This high stress technique is best performed on hardwood plants or seedlings over 28 days old.

Pruning is an excellent way to remove lower growth.

These plants have been well trained and will produce great yields.

cover, if the taste and smoking experience do not match. This typically occurs when a grower has been feeding their plants a range of liquid nutrients for months, and at no point flushed with plain water. Flushing is an essential part of the growing process and is the difference between a smooth, enjoyable smoke or a harsh, tasteless spicy smoke.

Top tip #8 - Bat guano Another one of my personal favourite organic additives to use during the flowering period.

Bat guano is available to buy in liquid form, or as a dry powder form which is ideal for a light top dressing, or mixing into your growing medium before repotting. I strongly recommend making an aerated compost tea using bat guano liquid or powder, and to brew until there is a white frothy texture on the top.

Top tip #7 - 14 day flushing

Top tip #9 - Add support before flowering

There is no point in growing a 10/10 looking crop that could easily make a magazine front

The more support you provide for your Cannabis plants before they are producing buds,

the easier it will be for them to focus on flower production. There are many ways to support heavy side branches and top colas, ranging from yo-yo devices, a net trellis and bamboo canes.

My personal favourite method of supporting plants is using 90 cm tall thin bamboo canes, inserted down the sides of the pots, giving the side branches 60 cm of bamboo cane to be tied to.

Top tip #10 - Topping early on Topping is a plant training technique which involves removing the top crown shoot of a Cannabis plant. The two smaller axillary shoots left behind will soon become the dominant crown shoots, causing a doubling effect.

The more times you top the plants during the vegetative stage, the number of potential flowering sites will increase from 2,4,6,12,24 and so on until you have an extremely bushy and compact plant.

Grow With Stoney Tark

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOIL AND COCO

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There are many ways of growing Cannabis plants using organic or hydroponic methods. The most basic is to use soil and hand water, whilst more complex options involve using inert growing mediums and hydroponic nutrients. In this article, we break down all you need to know about growing Cannabis using soil and coco and explain the pros and cons of each.

Growing Cannabis with soil Soil is basically compost that has been broken down and treated to become a nutrient rich, slow release and easy to use growing medium.

Many nutrient brands in the Cannabis industry already produce top quality soils which are designed to feed the plants from seed to harvest.

A good quality soil will be able to hold water whilst surrounding the roots with air pockets.

The consistency should be airy and have a spongy texture when squeezing. The aroma of soil is also a clear indicator to how fresh, fertile and full of microbes the soil sample is.

Wicking ability Cheap soils that can be bought from local hardware stores or garden centres, will not

base of the pots within 60–90 seconds of hand watering. Soil does not need lots of water to begin with. Cheap soils will easily become waterlogged and cause the roots to become oversaturated.

Skill level required When it comes to skill level and experience, you cannot wrong using soil. As a first timer grower, I personally recommend everyone starts off growing indoors with soil. There is also a 72 hour buffering zone, which makes soil the most practical, forgiving and user-friendly organic growing medium a beginner can choose to work with.

The pros • • • • • • •

It is hard to over feed your plants when growing with soil and feeding water.

The final taste compared to chemical nutrients will be much more refined.

Soil has a 3 day buffering period once you have given a liquid feed.

There are a wide range of top quality soils available to buy online.

Custom blend soils are easy to make and allow a grower to customize.

Soil can be easily mixed with coco and perlite for extra air pockets.

A well looked after soil can be reused once the plants are harvested.

The cons • • This grower uses trays and coco slabs for extra root mass.

•

Cheap soils will be lacking key nutrients and trace elements plants need The yield will always be small when growing with soil compared to hydro.

Poorly aerated soils can lead to root rot and slow growth.

Growing with coco

have the best overall qualities, compared to a well established brand. Soil which is mixed with perlite will have a better chance at wicking water slowly back to the roots. Poorly aerated soils will become heavy once saturated and can take longer to dry out also.

Drainage quality Soil has the ability to hold plenty of water for long amounts of time. It is important to make sure the soil you are using drains well, meaning that once you add water, it runs off from the

Coco is a very soft and airy growing medium that is made from the treated hairs from coconut husks.

What makes coco so different from soil, is the fact that there are no nutrients in coco (tiny amounts). This allows growers to systematically feed their plants hydroponic nutrients, and know exactly how much nutrition the plants receive.

As a result, plants grown in coco are well known for growing large and capable of much bigger yields compared to coco. It would probably be

An example of coco, soil and compost mixed together.

fair to say that coco is on par with hydroponic systems such as DWC when it comes to yields.

I personally love working with coco, and find it represents the perfect balance of aeration, wicking ability and how much the roots dig down into the pots.

Wicking ability Coco is able to hold up to 10 times its own weight, so that means you do not need to feed a large volume of water each feed. Coco is also packed full of tiny fibres and air pockets, making it ideal for hydroponics and reducing the possibility of over watering your plants.

more maintenance, from checking the pH of your water and nutrient solution, adjusting the E.C to how strong the nutrients should be, water temperature and the watering frequency.

Still a very easy to use and highly practical growing substrate that can easily be customized to add organic elements if needed.

The pros • • •

Drainage quality Pots filled with 100% coco coir or 50% coco and 50% perlite will be able to drain with ease. You will be surprised at just how much water coco can actually retain before airing back out. My rule of thumb when growing with coco is use the 10% ratio, so if you have a 20 liter pot, only add 2 litres of water / nutrient solution each feed.

Skill level required Compared to soil, coco does require slightly

•

Coco is very airy, lightweight and produces large yielding Cannabis plants It is possible to grow in small pots using coco and grow big plants.

Coco can be reused once treated with enzymes after harvesting.

Perlite added at a 30-50% ratio is a popular choice amongst growers.

The cons • • •

Not ideal for a first-time grower who is not familiar with nutrients.

Coco sometimes needs to be buffered and treated before use.

Some coco brands offer coco bricks, often high in salts.

Shop

17

SMOKEY JOE’SEnglands first medicinal consumption lounge Smokey Joe’s in Kidderminster is not your average Head Shop. They are blazing a trail by opening England’s first medicinal consumption lounge! Supporting patients and offering education to break the stigma surrounding medicinal cannabis. We spoke to the owner, Joe and lounge member Cliff, about how the venture could inspire more in the community to follow suit.

Tell us how Smokey Joe’s came to be.

I have been smoking since I was about 18. I grew up in Malaga, Spain and moved to the UK at about 12/13. I struggled with anxiety and depression and didn’t want to leave the house or socialise. Cannabis helped me get out and made my days more manageable.

It’s helped me so much that I want to help others suffering from physical and mental health issues.

After I started consuming and getting out a bit more, my grandad passed away and left me some money, which I used to open the head shop last year. I reached out to someone online who had opened a lounge in Northern Ireland and thought, what a great opportunity.

I’ve since had people reach out from Liverpool, Manchester and London who are interested in doing this where they live.

you need to get a strain that suits you. It would be great to link up with the NHS, but it’s hard to find people who want to change things instead of what is happening currently, where people are being prescribed opioids.

What has the response been so far?

Great, in 30 days, we have over 1,400 followers on Instagram. People coming in are amazed that they can get help to get a prescription.

In the three weeks since opening, I’ve helped around 70 people get signed up for a prescription. The time from application to receiving your medication can be as little as three weeks.

Which is impressive considering the battle people have on the NHS. One guy told me it took him four years to get his daughter medicinal cannabis for her seizures.

There are currently 32,000 people with private medical cannabis prescriptions. By 2026, that is estimated to rise to 360,00. Things will have to change soon.

We are getting many older people enquiring who want help with general aches and pains.

Also, lots of people with ADHD, PTSD, anxiety, and pain didn’t necessarily know that they may have a qualifying condition before they came in to see us.

Cliff, you are a member of Smokey Joe’s Lounge. Can you tell us a bit about how medicinal cannabis has helped you?

How hard was it to open the lounge?

We spoke to neighbouring tenants to explain that we were helping people, and it wasn’t just a place for anyone to smoke, and they were okay.

I was on the phone to police for 1hr 40 mins, as they didn’t know what to do with me. I emailed them explaining our plans, and they eventually gave me the OK.

I suffer from chronic pancreatitis, which has left severe nerve damage in the abdomen from surgery. I recently decided to give cannabis a go

after speaking to Joe. I received my prescription about a month ago and already feel a Zdifference.

I have been able to reduce my morphine intake by 10mg, and I haven’t needed any breakthrough pain meds. I was on that medication for nine years, during which time the doctors kept upping it, leaving me feeling not myself at all. Since I have been using cannabis, the old me has returned. I spoke to the doctor about it last week, and they were amazed at how I’m feeling.

Before cannabis, I felt totally “checked out”, but now I’m not; I feel more alert and able to engage with my family, especially my kids. I also feel more motivated to be active; I’ve been out of the house more in the last month than in a long time.

That’s amazing and shows how effective medicinal cannabis can be and how vital access to a lounge such as this is. So, Joe, tell us what’s next for Smokey Joe’s.

Do you help people who want a prescription?

The aim is to continue spreading the word, breaking the stigma, and letting people know there is a safe place to come to if they need help, advice, or education on medicinal cannabis. I’d love to see more lounges popping up across the country and potentially open more lounges myself, too.

I direct people to Integro. They listen to what

Want to find out more about

Smokey Joe’s, Kidderminster?

Give them a follow on Instagram. @smokeyjoes420710 @smokeyjoes_lounge

Seed Banks Bostérix

Our tests on ® Sweet Seeds auto strains

18

A two-week holiday at the end of August meant that we had to look for an alternative to a regular urban outdoor crop from April to October.

Hence, we preferred to give Sweet Seeds’ auto strains a chance, and save ourselves the task of putting the plants in the dark for a few hours each day, to bring flowering forward.

Autoflowering marijuana plants appeared on the cannabis scene two decades ago. Since then, they have not stopped improving in quality and yield.

For this season, we opted for three of the strains from Sweet Seeds®, the most renowned seed bank on the Iberian peninsula and also one of the first to offer seeds of autoflowering strains.

WHAT IS AN AUTOFLOWERING PLANT? Non-photodependent plants, also called autoflowering or auto plants, are the result of crossing a commercial cannabis strain with a ruderalis strain. The ruderalis genotype was discovered almost a century ago, in 1924, on the banks of the Volga River. Its natural habitat is in Western Siberia, the Caucasus and China.

The main characteristics of ruderalis are as follows: · smaller plants than the photodependent strains, as the growth stage is completed in a few weeks: · due to difficult climate in which they grow, these plants have adapted to flower - independently of the hours of sunshine - when they ripen; · the THC content of ruderalis was originally lower than that of commercial strains; nowadays, however, they are almost at the same level as photodependent strains, as there are autoflowering strains with more than 25% THC. The 1970‘s marked the beginning of a lot of breeding work with these plants, first in Canada and then in the USA and Europe, to achieve flowering independently of the hours of sunshine per day, while retaining the effect and flavour of the commercial strains.

In this respect, it is appropriate to make a clarification. The start of flowering after a few weeks from germination regardless of the hours of light each day was interpreted by many growers as ideal for planting throughout the year, whereas the reverse is true. They are perfect strains to grow from May until the

end of July, when the sunshine hours prevent photodependent strains from flowering.

As the growth phase is very short, it is important that, during these weeks, they do not suffer stress to achieve the greatest vegetative development, before they begin to flower. This means that temperature is a factor that is be taken into account in this type of plant.

On the other hand, the evolution of these strains, due to the work of breeders and geneticists of seed banks, has made these autos more powerful and tasty year after year.

THE ADVANTAGES OF GROWING AUTOFLOWERING STRAINS Growing this type of strains offers several advantages: · They are perfect plants for urban outdoor cultivation as they adapt to the space of a balcony and remain discreet with a reduced size. · They are easier to care for, i.e. the pot-to-plant ratio makes cultivation easier and avoids having to water them every day, even in the middle of summer. · With a shorter lifecycle, auto strains are more likely to reach the end of their growth cycle without pests or moulds. · The size of the pots together with the speed of development of these strains makes it almost impossible for nutrition problems to arise, i.e., problem such as nutrient blockages, substrate saturation following root mass colonisation, or water stress. · They are a good option for outdoor growing seasons, when it is necessary to have the harvest ready earlier.

SWEET SEEDS® AUTO STRAINS Sweet Seeds® is among the seed banks that are behind the boom of these strains in the Iberic peninsula.

Fourteen years ago, Sweet Seeds® released its first auto plant, Speed Devil, and since then they have not stopped adding new products of

Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto®, perfect for extracts.

this type to their catalogue, each time tastier and more potent. Their work has not gone unnoticed, as over the years Sweet Seeds® has been on the podium 25 times to celebrate an award for their auto strains.

With this past record, we could not wait to try their prime strains Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® (SWS97), Sweet Amnesia Haze XL Auto® (SWS57) and Sweet Zenzation XL Auto® (SWS100).

Skywalker OG is a famous clone originating from Florida, USA, which the bank‘s geneticists have crossed with Runtz XL Auto® (SWS88) to

turn it into an autoflowering hybrid with more than 60% Indica genetics.

Sweet Amnesia Haze XL Auto® results from the cross of a Cordovan Amnesia Haze clone with S.A.D. Sweet Afgani Delicious Auto® (SWS24) to produce the autoflowering version of the famous sativa-dominant strain.

Sweet Zenzation XL Auto® combines the Californian clone Zkittlez with the Sweet Seeds®automatic strain Runtz XL Auto®.

On each seed packet of their auto strains, Sweet Seeds® states which generation the plant belong to. They consider a generational change to occur when the percentage of Ruderalis genetics is reduced in each auto

19 photodependent crop, yield will be reduced, precisely because of the short growth period.

At the end of May, after placing the plants in their final pots, the next step was to insulate them from the heat of the soil. The sun on the balcony tiles generates excessive heat that can burn the roots. In this case, we chose a plastic pallet to separate them from the floor (but a sheet of polystyrene or a board can also be used).

Sweet Amnesia Haze XL Auto®.

plant. In the case of the strains we tested, Sweet Amnesia Haze XL Auto® is a 4th generation plant, with a ruderalis genetics content of 1.6%, while the Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® and Sweet Zenzation XL Auto® are 7th generation autoflowering strains with a ruderalis genetics content of 0.2%.

We decided to fill our balcony with these three autos between May and July.

plates and their content in a warm place in the house, for example in the space between the ceiling and the fridge, in the warmth of the refrigerator engine, to achieve a stable temperature during the day and night. After 24-36 hours, all the seeds germinated and were planted in small 0.3 litre pots until they sprouted and the first pairs of true leaves developed.

CULTIVATION

When they reached this stage, we transplanted them into final 15-litre pots.

When growing autoflowering strains, it is advisable to avoid stressing them, as the growth stage is very short (a couple of weeks) and if growth is interrupted for a few days, which is not noticeable in a 16-week

In early May, we germinated a couple of seeds of each of the strains selected for our urban crop. The germination method was the usual one of placing the seeds between several sheets of moistened kitchen paper, covering them with two plates and placing the

To fertilise our plants, we chose organic products combined with a bio-mineral flowering and bud-fattening stimulator.

About 3-4 weeks after germination, we looked at the first flowers. At this stage, the growth fertilisers and root stimulator were used for the last time; then we moved on to flowering fertilisers and stimulators. During these weeks, when the warmth of late spring still has to come, the crop is not attacked by pests, but we have to stay alert and use a preventive agent such as neem oil, which has a repellent action against most of the insects that affect marijuana plants.

Autoflowering strains continue to grow throughout their lifecycle, so they need a little more nitrogen than non-autoflowering strains.

In grow shops, you can find specific fertilisers for their cultivation. In this case, we opted for organic fertilisers for photodependent marijuana plants that were left over from the previous crop.

During the last week to ten days plants, were irrigated with water only, as normally required.

Indica-dominant hybrid with a delicious sweet and fruity taste, as one would expect from a plant that carries Zkittlez genetics, - Zkittlez being a famous American clone with a fruity caramel flavour. Sweet Zenzation XL Auto® causes a very enjoyable, relaxing effect, which facilitates socialising. Despite its high sativa content - 75% calculated by Sweet Seeds® geneticists - Sweet Amnesia Haze XL Auto® is a compact plant that is perfect for discreet cultivation on an urban balcony. It produces large, compact, resin-covered buds. It tastes of incense with a sweet, musky undertone inherited from its SAD parent and has notes of lemon and dried fruits. The initial effect is powerful, stimulating and active and is followed by very pleasant relaxation.

Sweet Zenzation XL Auto®.

DRYING AND CURING

CONCLUSIONS

About 8 to 9 weeks after germination, we first harvested Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® and Sweet Zenzation XL Auto® followed by Sweet Amnesia Haze XL Auto® a few days later.

We cut our flowers and placed them upside down in a dark room to dry them. Hanging the plant in this way allows the buds to keep their natural shape and prevents them from being crushed by the weight of the plant.

We trimmed the dried buds and them cured them in glass jars, which we opened from time to time to allow them to air out.

We observed great stability in each of the strains we tested. The plants all have similar structures and organoleptic properties.

As already mentioned, to avoid excessive summer heat, the plants were placed on a 15 cm high pallet, their pots were approximately 30 cm high. We deliberately decided to grow low plants, to avoid them sticking out from the balcony and calling the attention of neighbours and passers-by.

Grown in 15-litre pots, they reached a height of between 60 and 80 cm, which is ideal for placing then on a standard 1-metre balcony.

If plant height is not an issue, it is advisable to use 30 litre pots and reach the maximum height of these strains of approximately 120 cm for a maximum yield.

RESULTS The first to be harvested were the two Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto®. In about 60 days, they were ready for cutting. As could be easily perceived from flowering, Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® is a plant with a high density of trichomes and a lot of terpene production.

At first glance, we could see a large amount of resin on the leaves, which makes this plant a very good choice for lovers of concentrates as it is easy and quick to grow.

Skywalker OG Runtz XL Auto® has a hybrid structure with Kush genetics, dense, tight buds, and medium internode spacing. It stretches at the start of the flowering stage and reaches a final slender shape. The structure of the plant suggests a lower yield compared to other strains, but it is only a wrong impression as buds are more separated than usual.

A Sweet Amnesia Haze XL Auto® bud.

quickly and, after a euphoric start, becomes relaxing, but without knocking down the consumer, while stimulating creativity and imagination. Sweet Zenzation XL Auto® is an

The heritage of Grand Daddy Purple, one of the parents of Runtz XL Auto®, causes some plants to take on purple hues on the leaves during flowering. After drying and a short curing period, the plant acquires sweet and fruity flavours with hints of pine and spice.

The combination of terpenes, flavonoids and cannabinoids produces an effect that rises

Whether you are looking to finish your crop before the summer holidays, or help combat climate change and drought by saving water, or want to have some buds ready before the usual harvest of photoperiod plants in autumn, or are simply looking for a quick and hasslefree crop that allows you to consume quality marijuana, we invite you to try Sweet Seeds® auto strains to achieve this.

Growing

20

By Ed Rosenthal

BIG FLOATING BUDS: TYLER’S AQUAPONIC GARDEN practices for minimizing labor and maximizing energy efficiency. The arrangement is a fraction of the hassle of a traditional hydroponic grow. Filling the pond with water requires little effort, and the waterway makes it easy to move the plants around. There’s no hauling of buckets, no solid grow media, and no drip lines. By simplifying the process, he’s created a method with fewer potential breaking points.

This is only Tyler’s second time growing using this technique. Once he tweaks it a bit, he envisions a larger operation. “The idea of using this on a commercial scale is that it is easily automated so we wouldn’t touch anything and the plants would just float down the pond while growing into massive buds.”

For now the pond is only nine by four feet (2.7

component to his success.

It might be possible to use a little rooting gel and put the clones directly into the raft, but this time around Tyler started out with aeroponic cloners. “When they get a nice white root, I take them out of that and put them in the pond,” he says. Using this method, he cuts out the vegetative stage almost entirely. Once they are planted, he keeps indica-looking plants in vegetative growth for 3 to 10 days, but starts forcing the sativas to flower immediately.

The pond garden is an experiment using two cultivars. The Moby Dick looks a little leggy, but the OG Mendo Grape is stout and sturdy.

Indicas are likely the better choice for this style of growing because they stay fairly short

Photo: Tyler LeBlanc.

“I’m in the room. You wanna see the girls?” asks Tyler Leblanc. He’s standing above a uniform forest of giant buds. Each plant consists of one stem that’s grown up into a spiral. The tightly packed flower is the shape of the club a cartoon caveman might carry. “See how it just grows one bud straight up?” he asks. “These buds gotta be about 30 grams.” To demonstrate the size of the clusters, Tyler holds up a wine bottle, which is dwarfed by the cola.

“They’re just rock hard,” he says happily.

The key feature of this unusual garden is difficult to see at first. But the two foot (60 cm) tall plants are floating in a single pond, stabilized by styrofoam rafts. Tyler says it’s possible to grow between two and four plants per square foot (0.09 m2). By putting small plants immediately into flower, he saves a month’s worth of energy.

The obsession with growing giant plants was of course spawned by maximum plant counts for medical grows, but giant plants aren’t energy efficient. “You only harvest the top foot or two [30–60 cm] of the plant, right?” Tyler points out. “With these tiny plants, you save a month of vegging, and the pruning, the labor, everything is less because it just grows so quickly,” he explains. “Even trimming—it’s just one big rock solid bud. The dream, right? You can just push these floats down the pond like they do with lettuce and that’s your automation.”

This floating garden of dwarf plants was inspired by Ed Rosenthal’s theories on best

to drop as the plants grow. “When you put them in the water it should be between 70 and 72°F (21 and 22°C). The target pH until they acclimate should be 6.2,” he says. “As soon as it takes and you get a little new growth you can drop the water to 70°F (21°C) and the pH to 6.1,” he instructs. “Once you trigger flowering, you drop the temperature to 68°F (20°C) and the pH to 6 and keep it that way for two weeks.

By the third week, the pH is reduced to 5.9, while keeping the water at 68°F (20°C). Maintain for three weeks. For the last three weeks of the flower cycle, the pH should be 5.8.

The current crop was in flower for 56 days. He estimates that the typical cycle for this type of garden is about seven or eight weeks, maybe a little more for some cultivars. He expected about 30 grams per plant, though the plants yielded a fraction more, averaging 31 or more.

His biggest plant from the grow yielded 42.5 grams. “It was one bud, straight up!” he says, adding that the flowers were aromatic, covered in trichomes. “Smokes smooth and hits hard,” he says with a smile. The total yield was 3,240 grams, or 7.1 pounds (3.24 kg).

Processing is simple. He just picks off the big-

Clones are installed to float over the reservoir. Photo: Courtesy of Tyler LeBlanc.

x 1.2 m). Four floats measuring two by four feet (0.6 x 1.2 m) are home to 108 plants. To prevent algae growth and protect the roots from light, Tyler uses garbage bags to cover the narrow channels between the edge of the floats and the side of the pond. This floating forest requires minimal intervention. In fact, Tyler says that it can go unattended for a week at a time.

The garden requires no unusual strategies for lighting, water, or nutrients. The water is from the well. Tyler uses an $18 Venturi adapter meant for a dishwasher hooked in-line for the water chiller output in addition to an air pump with tubing to 10 air stones that he places around the pond.

The lights are high pressure sodium. Tyler feeds the plants every day with a diet of Current Culture nutrients: Veg A&B, Cal Roots, and UC Roots, an optimization and sterilization agent. He thinks that UC Roots is a vital

and stout. Tyler occasionally had to prune to prevent branching, but if the plants had been placed a bit closer to each other, it is possible to create an even canopy that would naturally stop a tendency toward branching. “With the right cultivar you can leave it untouched and it’d grow straight up,” Tyler says.

Like any garden, there have been some problems to solve. Tyler relies on help from his uncle, a talented local gardener. “I couldn’t have implemented this without the dedicated support of Uncle Ribinski,” Tyler says.

Originally he started the water at a pH of 5.8. “The plants had explosive root growth but the tops shriveled and died,” he says. He upped the pH to 6.2 and got happy plants. At another point in the grow, he realized that the roots were getting too much CO2 from the air pump. He moved the pump out of the grow room so that it wasn’t sucking air enriched with CO2. The problem disappeared.

Calibrating water temperature and pH is essential to this style of growing. Both need

Plants grown in this aquaponics system grow long, dense colas. Photo: Courtesy of Tyler LeBlanc.

ger leaves and hangs the entire plants, using traditional good practices for curing. There are no larfy branches, so the final product requires very little trimming. Starting over is also simple and waste free; he just drains and refills the pond and reuses the rafts. He estimates he can do five or six gardens a year.

Grow

21

With Stoney Tark

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUPER CROPPING There are many different ways to train Cannabis plants to help improve the canopy structure and increase yields.

Did you know there is a high stress plant training technique called super cropping which can really take your plants to another level? In this article, we explain all you need to know about the art of super cropping, how it works, when to do it and mistakes to avoid.

What exactly is super cropping?

As a beginner grower, anything with the word super added can only be a good thing, right?

The reason why this high stress technique got its name in the first place is due to the way plants respond after the technique has been performed.

To simplify, super cropping involves taking the stem and purposely breaking the inner cell wall. This is done by creating pressure

with your thumb and fingers, and to squeeze and twist until you feel the break, or hear a popping and light cracking sound.

The pros • •

Depending on how mature your plants are, you will either super crop your Cannabis plants whilst they are young and can be super cropped with a light squeeze. Or you will be able to bend, twist and snap hardwood older plants, which are often the best candidates to work with.

• • • •

Once the inner cell wall is broken, the plants will send a repair growth hormone to the broken area, which quickly becomes a bone-like, knuckle to strengthen the weak point. As a response mechanism, you will notice the plants will begin to grow with more vigor, size and stature. The side branches, where the super cropping has taken place, will become very thick and able to support lots of top weight.

The pros and cons associated

Cannabis plants will become more hardy and resilient after super cropping.

Yields may significantly increase compa red to non-super cropped plants.

Super cropping is easy to do and requires no expense at all.

Plants can be super cropped many times over the vegetative period.

Branches are able to support the buds much easier when super cropped.

Tall plants can be reduced in height with a successful super cropping.

The cons • • • •

Super cropping is a high stress technique and best suited for older plants.

Sometimes the stem can break and fail to recover, resulting in removal.

Applying this technique during the early flowering stages is not advised.

Weaker plants that have been super crop ped may take longer to bounce back.

When should the super cropping method be performed?

I personally only ever super crop my plants once they are old and mature enough (week 6 of 18/6), and when I know they will recover with no issues. It is best to snap your side branches before the flowering stage, to truly see the benefit of this technique playing out, and let them grow back before beginning flowering.

All of my super cropping is performed during day 35 and day 40 of veg as by this time, bamboo canes and a heavy pruning are on the cards. Once your side branches are attached to the bamboo canes, super cropped plants will be able to set in place much easier.

ches. The plants literally only need a light squeeze in order to pop the inner cell wall and feel it through your fingers as it happens. Only very experienced growers should super crop young plants, as it is too easy to inflict excessive trauma. Clones are often times easier to twist and snap, compared to seedlings, due to their hard wood characteristics.

3. Super cropping once in 12/12 I do not really recommend any high stress technique once flowering has started, as the stress induced can cause plants to become stunted, or in a worse case show tendencies to hermaphrodite. Always do your stem snapping whilst the plants are in a vegetative state and give them plenty of time to recover before switching your timers over.

4. Super cropping with dirty hands It is easy for us to forget about how we can get cooking oil, resin, aftershave and generally dirt on our hands. When super cropping plants, always make sure to wash your hands before handling plants and applying force.

Contaminated breaks can lead to infection, and keeping your grow room sterile and clean should be your main priority.

My conclusion Applying super cropping at the right time can make a world of difference to how your plants grow, flower and yield. I would recommend waiting for seedlings to grow past 28 days of growth before super cropping, and never perform once plants are in flower. Good luck mastering the ways of the stem snap!

4 Mistakes to avoid when super cropping 1. Being too heavy-handed Sometimes for growers, learning the hard way is the best way, and that is certainly the case when it comes to super cropping. Being too heavy-handed will result in the plants being damaged beyond repair and can even cause a hole to be created at the internodes. The most you practice super cropping, the easier it will become, but always start gentle and find the sweet spot as far as pressure and force is concerned.

2. Using immature plants This plant has been super cropped and tied to bamboo.

When I say young plants, I just mean soft wood plants that have a hollow feeling when squeezing the main stem or any side bran-

You can see how strong and thick the snapped part becomes once repaired.

Grow with Mr. José

22

Mr. José info@mrjose.eu

Why do leaves change color?

People often send me photos of plants with yellowing leaves, asking what’s wrong with them. In this article, I’ll describe the most common reasons for the change in leaf color and also advise you on what to change to prevent it.

Healthy plant leaves are easily recognizable by anyone. The blade of sturdy leaves is uniformly covered with a rich green color, intertwined with regular venation. Such leaves are a clear sign of the plant’s good health. As soon as a leaf starts changing its color, it indicates that something is amiss. The issue is that the color change can have a variety of causes, ranging from poor watering practices, unsuitable climatic conditions, pest infestations, to nutrition problems. Some issues have very specific symptoms and can be easily identified.

Leaf yellowing, associated with the gradual loss of chlorophyll, is known as chlorosis. This disease manifests as a deficiency of nutrients like nitrogen or iron. However, the problem is usually not the lack of these elements, but the plant’s inability to absorb them.

POOR WATERING The culprit could be a high temperature in the root zone or excessive watering, due to which the roots don’t get enough oxygen. In organic cultivation, the microorganisms that convert organic material into a mineral form, which plants can absorb, also lack oxygen. A lack of oxygen combined with a higher temperature in the root zone further promotes rotting processes.

A very typical example is when a grower plants seedlings in a growing medium that retains a

high proportion of water for an extended period and has little oxygen. In such an environment, the roots aren’t capable of absorbing nutrients. Soon, the lower leaves start to yellow, and the leaves droop, similar to when a plant wilts. The common reaction of growers is to increase the dose of fertilizers, or, even worse, increase watering.

The correct solution is to check the environment around the roots and try to provide a greater supply of oxygen. Either by reducing watering, allowing the medium to dry a bit, or by increasing the oxygen supply to the root area, perhaps by oxygenating the irrigation solution. Checking the temperature and pH in the root zone, as well as monitoring the nutrient content in mineral form, will help identify the problem.

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY When you rule out problems with watering and the health of the roots, leaf yellowing can likely be caused by a nutrient deficiency. Nitrogen deficiency typically manifests first in such cases. One of the most common signs of a lack of nitrogen is the yellowing of the plant’s lower leaves. Bottom leaves affected by chlorosis become lighter, losing their normal green hue, and may become overall weak. To address a nitrogen shortage, it’s usually necessary to increase fertilization with the primary components of the chosen fertilizers.

Another unmistakable sign is iron deficiency.

It presents as yellowing of the plant’s young leaves, while the older leaves remain green.

This process begins on the young leaves and Too much water in rockwool cubes leads to overflow and rotting of roots.

moves from the base of the blade towards the leaf tips. Leaves can fade completely. A lack of iron can also lead to smaller leaves and an overall slowed growth of the plant.

Among elements whose deficiency results in a change of leaf color is magnesium. It is essential for many crucial processes in plants, including photosynthesis, chlorophyll production, and regulating enzymatic reactions.

Iron deficiency.

A magnesium shortage typically manifests as yellowing in the interveinal areas, while the venation remains green. This contrast between yellowing and green parts of the leaves is a distinguishing feature. With prolonged deficiency, necrotic spots start to form on the leaves, which are dry, dead areas on the leaves. Another crucial macronutrient whose deficiency leads to a change in leaf color is potassium. Its lack also manifests as yellowing

in the interveinal areas of the leaves, but it’s usually accompanied by yellowing of the leaf edges.

These symptoms first appear on older leaves.

Potassium is vital for the proper process of photosynthesis, protein synthesis, nutrient transport, osmotic pressure regulation, and other life-essential plant functions. In some cannabis varieties, its deficiency may be associated with abnormal changes in leaf vein patterns or twisted leaves.

However, nutrient deficiency isn’t always only linked with yellowing of the leaves.

When phosphorus is lacking, plants can produce more anthocyanins, plant pigments that give plants blue, red, or purple colors. Besides potentially having noticeably purple leaves

23 and stems due to a lack of phosphorus, they may also be smaller and thinner.

Lastly, as a distinctive sign of nutrient deficiency, I’ll mention calcium deficiency. It typically manifests as noticeable necrotic spots bor-

While signals in the form of leaf color change can be fairly clear, their correct analysis is just the first step to rectification. Once you are certain about which element the plants are lacking, you should responsibly find out why

growing medium dries slowly, it indicates that the root system is not sufficiently developed and the rate of transpiration is limited.

Generally, it can be said that mature cannabis plants should consume roughly 10 liters per square meter in 24 hours.

Proper transpiration, of course, requires optimal climatic conditions. The amount of nutrients a plant absorbs directly correlates with the absorbed water volume.

Now I come to the point of how crucial it is to know how many nutrients the growing medium or nutrient solution contains Plants absorb nutrients mainly through the roots, which are best suited for this. They use ion pumps and transport proteins for this pur-

An excess of one element can cause the plant to have difficulties absorbing other elements, even if they are available in the growing medium.

This is a real issue that can arise when there is a high ratio of nutrients. If the roots are occupied by potassium ions and there isn’t enough space left for magnesium ions, the leaves will start to lose color, but their vein system will remain green.

If you interpret this signal as a lack of fertilizer, you might increase the supply of basic fertilizers containing NPK, exacerbating the problem because more potassium will reach the roots. It is therefore essential to know at least the approximate content of available nutrients or to determine this amount when

Early symptoms of magnesium deficiency.

dered by yellowing. These spots first appear on the lower leaves but can gradually spread throughout the entire plant.

FERTILIZE BUT DO NOT OVERFERTILIZE

that element is missing.

I’ve already mentioned how to detect potential issues in the root zone. However, the temperature, humidity, pH, and oxygen content in the root zone could all be in order.

The health of the roots can be estimated by how much water the plants consume. If the

Calcium deficiency.

pose. Plants possess the capability to detect nutrient deficiencies and adapt their absorption mechanisms accordingly. Essentially, they can extract the elements they currently need from the growing medium or nutrient solution.

The roots have mechanisms on their surface that allow this selective absorption. In case of a deficiency of a particular element, the plant can change its strategy to acquire as much of the missing element as possible.

However, some elements compete with each other because their absorption method is the same, whether due to their chemical properties, ion charges, or molecule size. Thus, one element might occupy too much space on the root surface, which can limit the absorption of other substances.

Pottasium deficiency.

For example, the already mentioned potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) can compete for space on the surface of the roots.

you are addressing a problem manifesting itself as a change in leaf color due to a deficiency of a certain element. Simply adding the missing element might not solve the problem and could even worsen it if the plants are already facing an excessive amount of nutrients.

You can measure the content of available nutrients with an EC meter.

Either measure the EC of the solution draining from the growing medium or use a soil EC meter. You can also rinse a sample of the growing medium in a small amount of water and measure the EC of that water.

Only when you are certain that the EC is not too high should you proceed with the application of the missing element.

In case of a nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium deficiency, apply basic fertilizers; if there’s a deficiency of magnesium, calcium, or iron, apply an appropriate product, like CalMag or a spray containing iron.

Grow

24

With Jorge Cervantes jorge@marijuanagrowing.com

CURING AND STORING YOUR CROP HOW TO CURE CANNABIS Curing your cannabis crop allows excess moisture and contaminants in leaves and stems to migrate out, so the entire flower dries evenly. Latent chlorophyll, contaminants and excess moisture volatize and disappear into the air.

Diseases, including mold, are less likely to grow during storage. Well-cured flowers allow natural aromas to emerge, impro-

ving taste. Flowers burn evenly and smoke smoothly when your crop is properly cured.

Moisture is distributed unevenly between branches, leaves, and flowers. Removing leaves and flowers from branches will speed the drying process. Drying leaves and flowers separately saves time. Removing flowers and manicuring when wet will also expedite the drying process. The moisture levels within flower clusters and small stems is uneven. The small stems hold more

Once flowers are about 75 percent dry they are ready to cure.

moisture than flowers. This moisture must be removed slowly. Curing removes the moisture so that flowers are uniformly dry.

Cure small amounts of cannabis in airtight glass containers with an airtight rubber or similar seal. Although glass containers are more expensive and bulky, I prefer them to plastic ones. Cure larger volumes of cannabis in airtight Ziploc and other plastic bags used for long-term storage.

Some growers avoid plastic containers, saying the plastic imparts an undesirable flavor to the flowers. But when curing large amounts, plastic bins are a very economical option. Stuffing 5 kilograms into small canning jars is not practical for most growers.

Enclose “dry” flowers in the storage container. The airtight environment creates a micro-climate that allows moisture to be distributed evenly between thick and thin parts of flower clusters.

Internal moisture will migrate to the dry portions of the flower. The excess moisture is trapped in the container and must be released, or “burped” periodically.

To cure your crop, gently pack as many flowers into containers as possible without forcing and damaging them. Leave the containers in a cool, dry, dark place.

A clear or tinted glass canning jar is a perfect recepticle to store your harvest flowers.

Two to four hours later, open the container and gently squeeze flowers to feel if they are more supple than they were a few hours before. Often moisture migrates quickly from stems to flowers when enclosed.

By making a few “feel” tests you will be able to determine how fast flowers are curing.

Be careful when squeezing; resin glands bruise easily.

If stems fold instead of snapping when bent and flowers are still moist to the touch, remove them from the container and gently place in a paper bag so that they dry evenly and quickly. Flowers can be stacked as high as 15 cm in a bag. Fold the top of the bag once or twice to close. Check the flowers during the day to monitor drying.

Carefully turn them in the bag so that different sides of the flowers are exposed. Remove once they are dry and place back into the sealed container. Check them the next day to see if flowers are more evenly dry.

You should hear a crisp snap when stems are bent. If too moist, put them back in the paper bag until dry. When dry, return to the curing container.

Check the sealed container daily. Leave the top off for 2-5 minutes in a low-humidity room so that moisture evacuates. When excessive the harvest “sweats” and turns up as water droplets.

Relatively dry flowers create excess humidity inside of containers that escapes when it is opened. Repeat the process two or three times the first couple of days and daily thereafter until flowers are cured.

Depending upon moisture content, flowers should be completely cured in a few days to two weeks. Small stems on flower buds snap rather than fold when bent. Once cannabis flowers are evenly dry, they are ready to seal in an airtight container for storage.

25

A paper bag is an excellent place to dry excess flowers. Do not let the bag get too full 15-20 cm deep.

Make sure to gently turn the flowers so tha tthey receive adeque air and do not develop flat sides.

HOW TO PACKAGE AND STORE CANNABIS Light, heat, air and friction hasten biodegradation and destroy cannabinoid potency.

Keep dried cannabis in a sealed rigid container whenever possible. Do not place on a sunny windowsill, table, hot car dashboards or near heat vents. Friction and fondling hands bruise and knock off resin glands.

Even with proper drying and curing, brutal violent handling will diminish cannabinoid content.

Storing cannabis in an airtight environment will preserve aroma, taste and potency for a few months to a year when stored properly. Use a vacuum sealer to evacuate air in airtight plastic bags. Inexpensive vacuum sealers are available in some grocery stores.

A quick internet search for “food vacuum sealer” will net many examples. A €75 investment in a vacuum sealer will keep the air out of many harvests.

Keeping your flowers in a glass jar allows you and your friends to admire them before consuming!

avoid your cannabis becoming moist. I just checked the relative humidity and temperature in my refrigerator–65 percent relative humidity and 5 degrees C. Cannabis flowers placed in the freezer may suffer more moisture stress when improperly sealed.

STORING CANNABIS 1. Air temperature range: a. 50-70ºF (10-21ºC),

Flash freezing at -38 degrees C is also possible, but quite expensive. Over time, freezing can draw moisture to the surface of flowers, and get trapped inside the plastic bag. This may harm resin glands on the surface.

b. Ideal: 55ºF (13ºC)

2. Humidity range:

THC degrades into cannabinol (CBN) when stored for long periods. Sunlight (UV light), air and high temperatures speed degradation. But this is not all bad. CBN retains about a quarter of the THC potency;

a. 50-70%, b. Ideal: 60% An inexpensive vacuum sealing machine is all you need to seal in the aroma and freshness of your crop.

Clear canning jars allow flowers to be admired as well as protected. Glass containers do not impart any plastic or metal odors and contain the pungent fragrance of fresh marijuana flowers. Store clear containers full of dry cannabis in a dark location to avoid resin glands from degenerating quickly.

When properly vacuum-packed and stored, flowers will stay as fresh for a year or longer.

Use the highest quality plastic possible.

Over time, air (oxygen) will bleed through the plastic.

CBN is a known sedative and anticonvulsant, with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties when applied as a topical.

A cool, dark, dry place provides the best storage conditions for dry cannabis. Refrigeration slows decomposition, but, remember, refrigerators have a high humidity level, so the container must be sealed airtight to

This article was excerpted from the update of – Marijuana Horticulture “Bible” (6th Edition) by Jorge Cervantes. The new digital edition will be available as late, 2023. Jorge is very excited about the new digital edition that will help hundreds of thousands of growers grow more and better cannabis! © 2020, © 2021, © 2022, © 2023. Download the Cannabis Encyclopedia FREE in English and Spanish on my site, www.marijuanagrowing.com.

DOWNLOAD TODAY!

WE GROW CANNABIS Award-Winning cannabis cultivation author Jorge Cervantes teams up with Seedsman for a FREE, comprehensive digital book on home growing.

100-page digital book

Beginner and advanced growers

270+ color images

Easy-to-follow cultivation examples

Interactive – Searchable

8 chapters of cultivation wisdom

Comprehensive guide to cannabis cultivation

Dedicated to increasing cannabis yields Discover the magic of cannabis!

E E R F K O O B www.marijuanagrowing.com/grow-cannabis-book

Co-Authors Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Gary Yates Stefan Meyer Table of Contents • • • • • • • •

Cannabis Botany Life Cycle of Cannabis Cannabis Seeds & Seedlings Plan Your Garden Grow Room Setup Twelve-week Garden Harvest, Manicuring, Drying, Curing & Storage Diseases, Pests & Problems

JORGE CERVANTES Author Marijuana Horticulture.

Legendary Jorge Cervantes, published in eight languages sold over a million copies worldwide.

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Cannabis Culture

27

Sebastian Daniel

Weed and Greed, Ltd. Science proves what various cultures have known for centuries or millennia: smoking cannabis makes people nicer - and less greedy.

In a study titled “Cannabis Consumption and Prosociality” that was recently published in the journal Scientific Report, researchers have found evidence that cannabis use makes people more empathetic, and less motivated by money.

Although the study focused on the “prosociality” of marijuana use (or, as Scientific Reports defines it, “purposeful action for the well-being of others”), lead author Assistant Professor Jacob Miguel Vigil of the University of New Mexico Department of Psychology said he was interested in changing the way other researchers approach studying the herb.

Vigil explained to the online news site The Paper that his team gave college students plenty of psychological tests to solve, and also tested their urine for THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. The results? “We found that people who had recently used marijuana showed higher levels of pro-social behavior and higher levels of empathy - the difference in empathy was statistically significant in both groups - as well as what the researchers call ‘moral foundations.’ These are basically the ideals we think about when we justify what is right and wrong.”

A 2016 study found a correlation between smoking cannabis and being less motivated to go to work for money. According to Vigil, this can be a good thing. “This is actually shown through formal research. The brains of marijuana users are less likely to ‘light up’ when they are shown

a dollar sign, compared to non-cannabis users.

People who don’t use cannabis get more excited when they see a dollar sign, and this has been interpreted by addiction researchers as a negative thing.”

Research on marijuana, Vigil said in an interview with The Paper (“Does Cannabis Make Us Nicer?”), has typically been conducted by people such as addiction researchers who view marijuana use as a problematic behavior.

Most of the research on marijuana to date either focuses on its medicinal uses, or focuses on negative aspects and experiences, from measuring levels of addiction to correlations with poor grades in school, to a (questionable) link with schizo-affective disorder and other mental illnesses.

They see marijuana users as unmotivated, or see them as addicts, or think they are losing sight of their goals. This subject has never really been approached objectively to see what is going on before making negative interpretations.

These studies leave little room for the positive social and psychological aspects of marijuana smoking that are well known to many users, creating space for researchers like Vigil to conduct an intriguing new niche of research.

PROF. JACOB VIGIL: “I THINK THAT THESE FINDINGS ARE EXCITING, BECAUSE THEY MAY JUST DEMONSTRATE AN EFFECT OF CANNABIS USE THAT COULD PROVE TO BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL THE DISEASE REMEDYING MECHANISMS THAT MAY EVEN BE DISCOVERED IN THE FUTURE.”

The Vigil team found no significant differences between marijuana users and non-users in measures of anger, hostility, trust in others, and threat interpretation based on facial expressions. “I think the null results on differences in threat interpretation and hostility suggest that marijuana users are not necessarily more trusting of other people. However, they do seem to have a sense of responsibility for other people, which is more nuanced”, Vigil commented.

Alcohol and Greed, Unlimited There are other studies - on animals as well that suggest marihuana is linked to altruistic or benign behavior, or simply being kind, nurturing offspring, etc. “I think that these findings are exciting, because they may just demonstrate an effect of cannabis use that could prove to be even more important than all the disease

remedying mechanisms that may be discovered in the future”, the researcher concludes in his interview with The Paper.

So, here are the facts: pot can even make someone normally sullen into a nicer person, and maybe even turn a super greedy bankster into a less greedy banker.

The real fuel of today’s greedy politics and violence is alcohol. To quote Jamaican musician and revolutionary Bob Marley: “Rum (alcohol) only destroys you from the inside and kills you, just like the system. The system is against the herb, because the herb makes you unbreakable... When [you] smoke... you sit down and then you can meditate and be someone.

Rum teach you to be a drunkard, and herb teach you to be someone.... Alcohol make you drunk, man. It don’t make you meditate, it just make you drunk. Herb is more a consciousness... When you smoke the herb - your consciousness stands before you. And you can see it. So the devil doesn’t like it when you are always conscious and do right things with your life. The devil knows that then you won’t do stupid things.”

“The herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction”, Marley said.

It seems that now science is catching up with these observations.

Grow With Stoney Tark

10 REASONS A

28

BEGINNER GROWER SHOULD TRY AUTOS Auto flowering Cannabis plants have built a solid reputation as top-quality cultivars that are able to flower regardless of the darkness period. Autos can be grown indoors, outdoors and in green houses with excellent results even for a first-time grower. In this article, we cover 10 reasons why a beginner should invest in some autos and jump on the auto flowering bandwagon and see what all the hype is about, as well as our top tips.

What exactly are auto flowering cannabis plants?

• It may be your first time growing, or you may have a few indoor or outdoor harvests under your belt, but did you know that there is a cannabis plant which flowers automatically?

Typically, we are used to photoperiod plants, meaning that they are light dependent and will only flower once there are 12 hours of darkness or less.

Autos, on the other hand, do not need the 12 hours or less, and are able to actually flower and produce high grade buds with up to 24 hours of light. A popular choice amongst outdoor growers and in recent years beginning to really establish their place in the seed collection of growers across the world. Thanks to breeding programmes and a thorough understanding of genetic mapping, autos are now at a point where they have evolved beyond belief into something special.

Reason #1 Autos are easy to grow When it comes to planting autos indoors or outdoors, one thing that is for sure is you will not need much skill or experience. Auto flowering cannabis plant are able to grow on their own accord in a vegetative state for around 30 days, before wanting to stretch and flower.

Considering that, the only thing a beginner needs to really do is plant their auto flowering cannabis seeds into a large sized pot, water and let the plant do all the work.

•

•

•

•

Autos are straightforward and a beginner does not need to worry about the vegetative stage.

The best advice for autos is to germinate the seeds inside a large pot from 20 liters upwards.

You can simply feed a vegetative nutrient for the first 28 days before switching to a bloom.

Autos should be flushed for the final two

weeks of the flowering cycle to enhance the final taste.

Sativa dominant autos may be more chal lenging to grow than indica and finish taller.

Reason #2 Very little maintenance is required One of the main reasons why auto flowering cannabis plants are simple, practical and straightforward to grow is due to the little maintenance required. Unlike photoperiod plants that can grow very large during the growth period of 18/6, autos will keep around 40-60 cm in height, before doubling in height and focusing on flower production. Most times you do not even need to add support or stake the plants, making life easy for a first-time grower.

• • •

Autos are strong, sturdy and tough plants that do not need much looking after.

Adding bamboo canes to support side branches is not required with autos.

Due to the stature and low-profile nature of autos, they are very resistant to the wind.

Reason #3 Autos will keep a low profile One of the reasons why autos are so popular amongst growers living in countries where cultivating cannabis may be illegal, is the fact autos stay low and can be easily hidden.

On average, auto flowering hybrids will vary from as short as 60 cm up to 125 cm, making them easy to blend with other plants outdoors. Even smokers with a private balcony or sunny rooftop terrace can grow without worrying about huge plants attracting the wrong attention.

• •

•

Outdoors in a private back garden, autos can camouflage amongst companion

plants.

You can grow very small autos if you decide to use a small sized pot or low flower bed.

Indica dominant autos can stay very low and a final height of close to 60 cm in some cases.

Reason #4 Fast flowering autos for Europe If you do find yourself in a part of the world where the climate is colder most of the year, then why not consider using fast flowering au-

29 tos. Growers in the UK and Holland for example will greatly benefit from fast flowering and resilient autos, allowing them to pull off a good harvest despite the challenging weather and shift in nighttime temperatures.

• •

• •

• •

When planted outdoors from July to September, it is possible to grow good yields.

Fast flowering varieties will significantly reduce the risk of mould or mildew.

Growers who do not get lots of direct sun light will benefit from fast flowering autos.

Reason #5 Perpetual harvests outdoors In South America, the Mediterranean, and other tropical parts of the world, autos are grown all year around. This is down to the fact, in these parts of the globe, the seasons are long, and the weather is classed as tropical.

This means, when working with autos, that you can harvest pretty much all year long. Maybe the yields will be lower during the wetter seasons, but otherwise you will be able to pull back-to-back outdoor harvests with ease.

Planting in a sea of green set up outdoors is a highly efficient way to produce great yields in a small space such as a greenhouse or polytunnel.

•

•

•

auto flowering plants are well suited to cold temperatures and high humidity.

They are also able to endure high temperatures and deal with heat stress well.

Autos grown in mountainous areas thrive with hot and harsh winds during the seasons.

Reason #8 Amazing indoor results

cupboard full of different jars of buds curing away!

• Everyone loves to grow multiple strains at once these days, especially to share with friends.

• Planting feminized auto seeds means you can grow a female plant of many strains at once.

• The flowering time will also vary between each auto, meaning you harvest multiple times.

When grown indoors, auto flowering cannabis plants can really show you what they are capable of. Grown under 18–20 hours of intense lighting, the results can be phenomenal. Everyone has a different method for indoor autos, and some growers even use 24 hours of lighting from seed until harvest. Either way, you will be destined to achieve fantastic results with very little work and maintenance.

Reason #10 Grow autos next to photoperiod plants

•

flower plants inside the vegetative room, and outdoors you can harvest auto and photoperiod plants around the same time when planted over the summer months.

If you are still not fully sold on why autos are a great addition to any indoor or outdoor garden, then why not try planting some autos alongside your photoperiod plants. The advantages of doing this indoors is that you can

One thing that I have learnt over the years is that autos do not like to transplanted, and they prefer to start life in a large sized pot or container, and be left alone. I personally like to use 25 liter to 50 liter felt pots depending on the time of the year when planting outdoors.

Top tip #2 - No high stress training Unlike photoperiod plants, removing the top shoots and pinching out auto is a bad idea.

Doing so will cause plants to grow very small and in a worst-case scenario become stunted.

It is best to leave the autos to grow and leave the plant training for the photoperiod strains.

Top tip #3 - Plant throughout the year If you have the luxury of planting in your own private back garden, sunny terrace or balcony,

Perpetual harvests allow an outdoor grower to harvest every 8-12 weeks depending on the strain.

During the Summer and months, autos will produce the biggest plants and most dry weight.

Most autos grown outside in warm and humid environments are resilient to pathogens.

Reason #6 Superb quality If you were presented with a blindfold test of the same strain, it would be almost impossible to know which of the buds you were consuming was from an auto flowering plant, and which came from a photoperiod. Thanks to the incredible work done by breeders, the quality of resin, terpenes, cannabinoids and overall quality is on par with any photoperiod strain.

•

•

•

One of the reasons there are so many auto flowering cups nowadays is due to the quality!

Extractors and hash makers find autos very good plant material to work with for their projects.

The buds are dense, resin is off the charts and the flavours are as just as good as anything else.

Reason #7 Tough and resilient characteristics One thing that a grower does need when battling difficult outdoor conditions, is a plant that is able to endure cold, heat and wind damage, whilst being able to fight off pathogens and disease such as mould and powdery mildew.

Autos certainly tick all the boxes when looking for a solid candidate to leave outside, so a grower can have peace of mind that they do not need to worry as much about their autos.

• •

•

Autos love high intensity lighting (HID) and will seriously pack on the pounds for you.

You can keep using the same vegging and flowering nutrients as you currently do.

The bigger the pot, the larger the plants and yields will become when grown indoors.

Autos do not take as much room to stretch and flower, making them more efficient.

Reason #9 So much variety

•

•

• As a beginner grower, it must be exciting to know there are so many auto flowering varieties out there, each with their own unique effect, aroma, taste, flowering time and yield.

One of the biggest reasons you should grow autos is to plant as many as you can, and learn about how different traits are exhibited by the various crosses. There is nothing wrong with a

Keep one auto flowering plant in the vegging tent and one in the flowering tent and compare.

Outdoors, you will be able to harvest both autos and photoperiods together later in the year.

Autos are a good way to tie you over with flowers until your photoperiod plants are ready.

3 top tips for growing auto flowering cannabis seeds Top tip #1 - Big pots work best

then why not consider growing autos from March, all the way through until early. The results will differ with the June, July and August being the most optimal.

The conclusion Auto flowering cannabis seeds have really revolutionized the way growing plants indoors and outdoors has been approached. The time when autos were just something that looked decent but never really impressed a smoker is long gone, and now trying to guess which buds came from autos and which are from photoperiod is almost impossible.

Once you plant your first few auto flowering cannabis seeds, you will never look back and only improve every harvest!

Colofon

Soft Secrets is published by Discover Publisher BV Galvaniweg 11, 5482 TN Schijndel, Netherlands Telephone: +31(0)73 5498112 E-mail: info@softsecrets.nl Web: www.softsecrets.com Editor: Cliff Cremer Contributors: Jorge Cervantes, Stoney Tark, Mr. José, Green Born Identity (G.B.I.), Betty Green, TricomaTeam, Tommy L. Gomez, Fabrizio Dentini, Ed Rosenthal and others.

Photography: iStock Editorial adress: E-Mail: readers@softsecrets.nl Advertisements: E-Mail: info@softsecrets.nl

A word from the publisher: Soft Secrets is a bi-monthly free magazine which is published in The Netherlands (called Highlife), Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Poland, Czech Republic and Chile.

World wide there is a process going on of relative liberalisation towards the use of cannabis, be it for medicinal or recreational purposes.

Several countries legalised cannabis as a way of separating soft and hard drugs, as it has proven to do in Holland. Other countries legalised the use of medicinal cannabis, including the right to grow cannabis plants for one’s own use. The publisher wants to highlight the process of normalisation of cannabis use. This assumes that the publisher does not necessarily agree with everything that appears in articles and advertisements. The publisher therefore distances himself explicitly from published statements or images that might give the impression that an endorsement is being made for the use and/or production of cannabis.

Nothing from this publication may be copied or reproduced in any format without prior permission from the publisher and other copyright holders. The publisher is not responsible for the content and/or point of view of advertisements. The editor takes no responsibility for unsollicited submissions.

30

Index of ads Name

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Barney’s Souvenirs........................................... 31

Sweet Seeds...................................................... 32

The publisher has endeavored to reach all copyright holders of photos and/or images.

Those who still believe they are entitled to these rights may contact the publisher.

Cervantes.......................................................... 26

Tree of Life.......................................................... 7

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02.23.2024

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