Growing Equatorials - Are there any special techniques

[MIGrampaUSA]

This topic came up last night in another thread. The plants I'm referring to originate between the 2 tropics where day/night lengths don't vary much. These strains have a tendency to throw male flowers. My inclination is this is stress related. Others feel it's more in the genetics. The truth is probably a mixture of both stress and genetics. I found this interesting article:

Equatorial cannabis varieties

Cannabis is known to be a photoperiod-dependent plant; when summer draws to a close, the plants typically stop growing new shoots and leaves.

sensiseeds.com

Purpose of this thread is to share information on how others (meaning me especially because I haven't grown one yet) have successfully navigated these strains. They have a reputation of being fussy plants that are hard to grow. I am planning on growing a few Moby Dick plants scrogged in their own tent soon.

These strains tend to have high THCV content.

 

[MIGrampaUSA]

This topic came up last night in another thread. The plants I'm referring to originate between the 2 tropics where day/night lengths don't vary much. These strains have a tendency to throw male flowers. My inclination is this is stress related. Others feel it's more in the genetics. The truth is probably a mixture of both stress and genetics. I found this interesting article:

Purpose of this thread is to share information on how others (meaning me especially because I haven't grown one yet) have successfully navigated these strains. They have a reputation of being fussy plants that are hard to grow. I am planning on growing a few Moby Dick plants scrogged in their own tent soon.

These strains tend to have high THCV content.

For starters, environmental controls. Does the day/night cycle get changed to more accurately mimic it's natural growth environment or do you still start with 18/6 schedule. Article suggests 13/11 for vegetative growth. What I have is likely a more "northernized" variety. What have people had success with?

 

[MIMedGrower]

Moby dick is a well bred hybrid. Grow it like any plant. A friend grew 6’ monsters under 1000 watt lights a few years ago. Wasnt finicky at all. Not like diesel or thai i have grown.

 

[growsince79]

Moby dick is a well bred hybrid. Grow it like any plant. A friend grew 6’ monsters under 1000 watt lights a few years ago. Wasnt finicky at all. Not like diesel or thai i have grown.

Plant your seeds and make clones asap. Then throw the mothers away and just grow the clones. They will be more manageable indoors. Otherwise invest in a 20' tall ceiling.

 

[MIGrampaUSA]

Plant your seeds and make clones asap. Then throw the mothers away and just grow the clones. They will be more manageable indoors. Otherwise invest in a 20' tall ceiling.

Scratching my head on how to engineer 20' ceilings .... in my basement.

 

[MIGrampaUSA]

My thought was to scrog it. Might still get too big.

 

[MIGrampaUSA]

Moby dick is a well bred hybrid. Grow it like any plant. A friend grew 6’ monsters under 1000 watt lights a few years ago. Wasnt finicky at all. Not like diesel or thai i have grown.

I was wondering if the genetics had bred that out (finickiness)... apparently it has. Good to know.

 

[MIGrampaUSA]

A friend grew 6’ monsters under 1000 watt lights a few years ago. Wasnt finicky at all. Not like diesel or thai i have grown.

What did you run into with the diesels? I have those on my wish list to grow

 

[growsince79]

I was wondering if the genetics had bred that out (finickiness)... apparently it has. Good to know.

I'm not sure about these new hybrids that claim to be equatorial sativa. Everything today seems to be part indica- even in Jamaica and Colombia.

Scratching my head on how to engineer 20' ceilings .... in my basement.

LOL Dig a hole.

 

[MIMedGrower]

What did you run into with the diesels? I have those on my wish list to grow

Like any sativa leaner it takes training and continued tying and staking most of the way through flowering. And its tough to dial in nutes. Always over and underfed looking until you hit their sweet spot.

I just err on the side of underfeeding as a general rule so its more clear when they ask for more.

 

[MIMedGrower]

I'm not sure about these new hybrids that claim to be equatorial sativa. Everything today seems to be part indica- even in Jamaica and Colombia.

LOL Dig a hole.

They are all hybrids. Even ace seeds sells hybrids under the “land race” moniker. No one would be happy with a tall stringy hermed real sativa with scraggly flowers stuffed into their tent.

 

[Formallyhap]

10/14 flower times to control size and length of flower is needed for most of the country. Far red helps cut times too.

I used vertical bulbs with one on the floor and one from the ceiling to get it as dense as I could. Never grew any with leds.

 

[Jimster]

I grow a lot of Sativa strains, which are mostly equatorial... think of Colombian, Jamaican, Panama Red, Acapulco Gold. These can grow into mosters... we had one reach over 10 ft in an old victorian house with 14' ceilings. I grow them is an 8' tall room, but once the hit 7 ft they are above my light and begin to grow downward/sideways. I don't think a scrog would work too well, although it might provide support at the end of flowering since branches can get overweighed. They can be done, but they aren't the idea strain to start with indoors since they grow tall and stretch a lot.
IDK about today's strains as many are Indica hybrids, like you mentioned. I am growing an Alaskan strain, although I believe it to originate in an equatorial area. Not 100% sativa, but it grows like one, just a wee bit wider leaves. To the best of my knowing, almost all equatorial strains are Sativa, with Indica being more common in drier areas.

 

[MIGrampaUSA]

I grow a lot of Sativa strains, which are mostly equatorial... think of Colombian, Jamaican, Panama Red, Acapulco Gold. These can grow into mosters... we had one reach over 10 ft in an old victorian house with 14' ceilings. I grow them is an 8' tall room, but once the hit 7 ft they are above my light and begin to grow downward/sideways. I don't think a scrog would work too well, although it might provide support at the end of flowering since branches can get overweighed. They can be done, but they aren't the idea strain to start with indoors since they grow tall and stretch a lot.
IDK about today's strains as many are Indica hybrids, like you mentioned. I am growing an Alaskan strain, although I believe it to originate in an equatorial area. Not 100% sativa, but it grows like one, just a wee bit wider leaves. To the best of my knowing, almost all equatorial strains are Sativa, with Indica being more common in drier areas.

Sounds like the clone idea is making more and more sense with these monster sativas. I've grown sativa leaning hybrid AK-47 before. They don't get near that large.

 

[Jimster]

Sounds like the clone idea is making more and more sense with these monster sativas. I've grown sativa leaning hybrid AK-47 before. They don't get near that large.

Clones don't seem to get as tall, either.

 

[MIGrampaUSA]

Clones don't seem to get as tall, either.

It would be nice if I could grow her outdoors. I don't think she would finish in Michigan and I live in the city. A large plant could attract a lot of unwanted attention in my neighborhood. I live in a good area but there's still a few shady looking characters walking around sometimes.

 

[Terpz719]

This topic came up last night in another thread. The plants I'm referring to originate between the 2 tropics where day/night lengths don't vary much. These strains have a tendency to throw male flowers. My inclination is this is stress related. Others feel it's more in the genetics. The truth is probably a mixture of both stress and genetics. I found this interesting article:

Purpose of this thread is to share information on how others (meaning me especially because I haven't grown one yet) have successfully navigated these strains. They have a reputation of being fussy plants that are hard to grow. I am planning on growing a few Moby Dick plants scrogged in their own tent soon.

These strains tend to have high THCV content.

Love THCV! Thought it was the providence of Durban and other Africans. I'll have to check out MD. I have some Panama that I haven't popped yet, so I'll be following along. Best of Luck.

 

[MIGrampaUSA]

Love THCV! Thought it was the providence of Durban and other Africans. I'll have to check out MD. I have some Panama that I haven't popped yet, so I'll be following along. Best of Luck.

I'm just gathering information right now. I have 11 plants (4 strains) in early flower. I'm looking ahead and wanted something new.

 

[Kanzeon]

My thought was to scrog it. Might still get too big.

Maybe, but training methods like multiple topping and manifolding are totally feasible. The plant will tell you what it needs in your space, you're a good enough grower to listen.

I'm just about to drop some Sotho Heights, from Seeds of Africa, also a 100% sativa. Gonna start some of these off at 13/11 with higher temps and more red in the spectrum, and some under my normal 19/5 veg time. It'll be interesting to see the differences.

 

[MIMedGrower]

Much like @Kanzeon said you can start large plants 12/12 too.