Blueberry Butcher, Scarlet Begonias and Dark Hollow

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mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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Greetings, Marijuana Enthusiasts!

I germed a few from my ever-growing storehouse of seeds. The pandemic shutdown/slowdown/asssuckingbullshit forced me, against my better judgement, to keep buying more and more seeds. Business was insane and then the government sent me a check to do whatever the fuck I wanted to do with it, so now I have to continue the search for the plant that finally allows us to find the lethal dose of weed.

So with that task in mind, here's another shot in the dark.

These are all Irie strains. For those not familiar, Irie Genetics is a breeder named Rasta Jeff, who found a "special male" in a cross he calls Arise, that boosts potency, enhances flavors, improves structure, sharpens eyesight, increases IQ points, allows the handicapped to throw away their crutches, wheelchairs and walkers and brings peace to the Middle East. Or at least some of these things.

He is deeply involved in the commercial growing scene in Colorado, and has access to myriads of well-selected females of many of today's strains. He proceeded to cross the special male to many females and most of his non-feminized wares are crosses to this Arise male.

I've found a couple of great keepers in two Irie strains, so I'm continuing this exploration. The breeder seems to like the heart-racy, paranoia-inducing, where-the-fuck-am-I?, no-officer-nothing-is-wrong, kind of weed that I love.

Scarlet Begonias is Red Headed Stranger x Arise. It is supposed to be a ceilingless, energizing sativa dom.
Dark Hollow is GMO x Arise. It is supposed to be on the couch-locky side.

Irie also worked with Subcool's Jack the Ripper, and recently came out with some crosses with an f2 male JTR. Blueberry Butcher is Blueberry Cookies x JTR f2. It is said to be energizing, but I expect it will be somewhere close to a 50/50 hybrid.

The plants are about 4 weeks old. So far, there is one confirmed female of each cross, a few males, but mostly plants that are still questioning.

And I got my first-ever whorled phyllotaxy!
Blueberry butcher scarlet begonias and dark hollow

I didn't notice it until a couple of days ago. It's one of the questioning Blueberry Butchers.

Clearly this is an omen. I'd sacrifice a chicken to get to the bottom of it, but that running around without a head, bleeding all over the place part would really put me in the doghouse. I just don't want to hear "Fer chrissakes! Not in the house!" again. Looks like I'll just have to deal with a haunted tent for this grow.

Here's the whole gang. One male has met the Grim Clipper already. There are several others that are males, but they're still at a stage where I can be in denial about it, so I chose the denial option for now.
Blueberry butcher scarlet begonias and dark hollow 2


You can see where I already burned the fuck out of a couple of them, before turning the light down to about 70%.

They're being grown using my classic organic soil, kinda method, where I pretend to grow organic, before supplementing with liquid OMRI-acceptable additives and nutrients, during mid-late flower. And they're going to get more Mg. I've added alfalfa meal, in hopes it will allow the soil to provide some Mg, but I doubt that will cut it.
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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The denial stage is over, and I jumped right on ahead to acceptance. Mass slaughter of males, this morning. 4 Scarlet Begonias, 1 Dark Hollow and 1 Blueberry Butcher met the Grim Clipper, so far. Down to 11, and I don't think the rest are girls.

Normally, I germ way too many plants and have a stuffed jungle tent. Looks like I may have to use some training skills on this batch.
 
sambapati

sambapati

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mystic one, glad to hear that your denial stage is over and you've moved on to bungle in the jungle. It is impossible not to smile when saying the phrase Scarlet Begonias...Enjoyed reading the above and keep it real
 
PipeCarver

PipeCarver

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The denial stage is over, and I jumped right on ahead to acceptance. Mass slaughter of males, this morning. 4 Scarlet Begonias, 1 Dark Hollow and 1 Blueberry Butcher met the Grim Clipper, so far. Down to 11, and I don't think the rest are girls.

Normally, I germ way too many plants and have a stuffed jungle tent. Looks like I may have to use some training skills on this batch.
I'm in that boat now with a dozen plants,3 strains unsexed. My luck has been pretty sad so far this year with way more males than fems. 1 out of 5..2 out of 7....1 out of 4 then some where auto's I thought were photo's leaving me with smaller harvest that I can get off photo's.

It's been making me close to running out a few times now. I hate running my 1000w hps for only 2 or 3 plants so this time I've a dozen 2 week old plants that with my lucky I'll get only 4 or 5 fems out of them OR The averages will finally catch up with me and I'll get 10 fems and over fill my flower room. I'm hoping for the later this run.
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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Down to watch- the scarlet B is interesting, I’ve heard mixed reviews about Jeff’s gear ? Good commercial plants but some say just not that knock out punch? Lol I’m curious how this will turn out.
I would say any of his wares that is a cross with his Arise male is likely to be very potent. Most of his regular selections are crossed to that male. The fems are a different story. I tried Bebop, which is a cross between Blueberry Cookies and an Arise female. For that one, the potency was good. I would definitely say it is as you say — a good commercial plant that's really good, but doesn't have a knockout punch, and not worth growing for your average skilled grower/pot snob.
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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Well damn. Dark Hollow likes more acidic soil.
IMG 6684


The strain description mentions this. I thought I had it covered just by not adding any liming materials to the soil mix, but I guess I was wrong.

Later today I'm going to re-transplant this girl, though I may have to visit the grow shop to see what can be done. I have elemental sulfur soil acidifier, but I'd have no idea how much to mix in, or even whether it would react in the soil quickly enough. In the mean time, I did some foliar feeding with a liquid nute that has iron and zinc.
 
Kanzeon

Kanzeon

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mystic one, glad to hear that your denial stage is over and you've moved on to bungle in the jungle. It is impossible not to smile when saying the phrase Scarlet Begonias...Enjoyed reading the above and keep it real

I feel like it's a mafia term or something. Like, "Gino, Fat Mike went rogue again. That sonofabitch is getting scahlet begonias and cement shoes the next time he's in town."
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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I feel like it's a mafia term or something. Like, "Gino, Fat Mike went rogue again. That sonofabitch is getting scahlet begonias and cement shoes the next time he's in town."
It's an old Dead song, that I've heard a million times, but didn't realize the title was Scarlet Begonias until just recently. It's one of those songs where I can hear 1/3 of the words, and I fill in the rest in my mind. And yeah, I filled them in completely wrong.
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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I just up-potted the whole crew. They're at 4.5 weeks, a few still have not shown their 'nads. It seems like late showing plants tend to be girls, but I've gotten late males, too.
IMG 6686


The whiners who wanted more acidic soil might have gotten it in the transplant. We'll see.

One of the female scarlet begonias looks like she is going to stake out some serious tent real estate, if she gets her way. It's the branchy looking one in the back row, right center. The others are said to be mild-mannered, until stretch.

The 4 plants in the smaller pots are clones — two of which might stay in the tent after flipping. Some revegged, due to my careless attitude towards mama plants. I'm promising to turn over a new leaf, though. The girls told me they'd give me another chance.

I've decided to abandon ship on really being organic, and now they're getting liquid nutes from organic sources. A few Roots Organics products — so far, nothing has died from them yet, but stay tuned. Changing anything is when my plants wish they had a different grower.
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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Changes are going well and all the rest of the plants are girls.

4 Scarlet Begonia girls (6 boys)
3 Blueberry Butcher girls (1 boy)
2 Dark Hollow girls (1 boy).

It's been 2 days since transplanting with a new mix and adding Roots nutes and additives without the plants shrieking in pain. I want to up-pot them into 12" x 12" pots, which are around 5 gallons, and get them rooted in it before flip.
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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The whole gang is happy, at a couple of days before the end of week 6 veg.
IMG 6704


Plants that prefer acidic soil seem to have calmed down. I found a Cal/Mag that includes iron and they seem to be satisfied.

I decided to remove all the huge, kite-sized fan leaves off this Blueberry Butcher to see how she produces, compared to the one in the pic above, up front.
IMG 6705

I left the two kites that haven't fully expanded yet at the top. This exposed a lot of growing points.

I'll have to leave town for a few days, for work. I expect they'll do fine.

Potential SNAFU Brewing:

In the middle of November I have to leave for about 9 days. I'm thinking of doing a last transplant, then flip them to 12/12 a week later, THEN leaving for this trip. Would that be insanity?

My thinking is that the first week after flip isn't that bad, stretch-wise. I'd be flipping after about 8+ weeks of veg. I don't want to leave them vegging TOO long and end up with tops kissing the lights.

So any opinions? I could flip them sooner and leave them at the beginning of week 2 of veg, but that seems like it would be a huge mistake, as week 2 and 3 seem to be the big ones. I could also let them veg another 9 days and flip when I return.
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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They're done with 7 weeks vegging, and I think I will flip this weekend.

IMG 6741labeled

SB = Scarlet Begonias, BB = Blueberry Butcher, DH = Dark Hollow, LS = Lemon Sunrise

The Lemon Sunrise are a couple of cuts in one 5 gallon container. the mom went into flower, I revegged her and took cuts, resulting in the single leaflets from hell that you see on her. From clone, she finishes in slightly less than 8 weeks, which is amazing for a powerful sativa dom. She won't produce much, but I'll have it in January.

SB has a well-behaved, bushy, Xmas tree pheno (the one in the back and the one on the right side) and a branchy stretcher (center and front center).
All three BBs are well-behaved Xmas trees, but I've heard from others who grew it out that there is also a tall pheno. I'll have to pop the rest of the pack to find that, maybe.
Both DH plants are branchy and stretchy, but the one in the lower left corner likes more acidic soil than she's been getting. I soured it up with some additional peat moss during this repotting, so we'll see if it helps.

So my choice ahead of me is:

CHOICE A
1. flip this weekend
2. bend, twist and prune, as needed
3. leave on business for 8 days during the second week of stretch.

CHOICE B
1. Flip the following weekend
2. Leave on business for 8 days, leaving them unsupervised during the 1st week of stretch.

CHOICE C
1. Keep them vegging another 3 weeks (for a full 10 weeks of veg — the last week I won't be here for)
2. Flip 3 weeks from now, tend plants as needed.

Your 2 cents is welcomed.

I don't think another 3 weeks of veg is a good idea. I'm wondering, though, which week of stretch is more important. I think the second week shows more stretch, but bending, training and super cropping should probably take place during the first week.

I intend to keep them watered with Blumats during the week+ I'm away.
 
Moshmen

Moshmen

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They're done with 7 weeks vegging, and I think I will flip this weekend.

View attachment 1184842
SB = Scarlet Begonias, BB = Blueberry Butcher, DH = Dark Hollow, LS = Lemon Sunrise

The Lemon Sunrise are a couple of cuts in one 5 gallon container. the mom went into flower, I revegged her and took cuts, resulting in the single leaflets from hell that you see on her. From clone, she finishes in slightly less than 8 weeks, which is amazing for a powerful sativa dom. She won't produce much, but I'll have it in January.

SB has a well-behaved, bushy, Xmas tree pheno (the one in the back and the one on the right side) and a branchy stretcher (center and front center).
All three BBs are well-behaved Xmas trees, but I've heard from others who grew it out that there is also a tall pheno. I'll have to pop the rest of the pack to find that, maybe.
Both DH plants are branchy and stretchy, but the one in the lower left corner likes more acidic soil than she's been getting. I soured it up with some additional peat moss during this repotting, so we'll see if it helps.

So my choice ahead of me is:

CHOICE A
1. flip this weekend
2. bend, twist and prune, as needed
3. leave on business for 8 days during the second week of stretch.

CHOICE B
1. Flip the following weekend
2. Leave on business for 8 days, leaving them unsupervised during the 1st week of stretch.

CHOICE C
1. Keep them vegging another 3 weeks (for a full 10 weeks of veg — the last week I won't be here for)
2. Flip 3 weeks from now, tend plants as needed.

Your 2 cents is welcomed.

I don't think another 3 weeks of veg is a good idea. I'm wondering, though, which week of stretch is more important. I think the second week shows more stretch, but bending, training and super cropping should probably take place during the first week.

I intend to keep them watered with Blumats during the week+ I'm away.
I’d prolly chose B if they stretch to much supercrop is an option? Also water schedule ? Ya hand water? If so they need to make it 8 days with attention - the further in flower the more often the plant needs water. Just things to consider , I’m leaving for 4 days and I don’t like it! Lol

I missed the blue mat watering part
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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I’d prolly chose B if they stretch to much supercrop is an option? Also water schedule ? Ya hand water? If so they need to make it 8 days with attention - the further in flower the more often the plant needs water. Just things to consider , I’m leaving for 4 days and I don’t like it! Lol

I missed the blue mat watering part
Super cropping is absolutely an option — one that will likely be employed, regardless.

At this point I'm thinking stretch doesn't get into high gear until a week after flip, and I should be back by then if I go with option B.

I plan on hemming and hawing about this until I leave.
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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8 weeks veg — getting bushy. The taller girls got some stem squashing and bending, but except for the Dark Hollow and one pheno of Scarlet Begonias, most only grew a few inches and filled in.
IMG 6744

Aside from being repotted, they all got an infusion of microbes and shared an order of 10 million beneficial nematodes, because:
IMG 6742


I put up a new sticky trap in honor of the 10 million. These are fungus gnats. I didn't see any thrips in the mix.

All strains were thrilled, except for the red-headed stepchild of the grow, Dark Hollow. I tried to adjust for her preference for acidic soil, and likely over compensated, causing an Mg issue.
IMG 6745


I don't think I'm going to try anything else with her, to try and adjust her issues. She's going to be treated the same as the rest, unless something even more unfortunate happens, whereupon she will be evicted from the tent. I'll take a cut, regardless. Sometimes acid-lover cannabis plants do better for me as clones.

Next pics will show whether flipping and leaving was a good choice. I think they'll have just woken up from veg stage relaxation by the time I return. It will only be 5 days (…were his last words).
 
mysticepipedon

mysticepipedon

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Well, that was a lot of worrying for nothing. This is what they looked like when I flipped them and walked out the door on Sunday:
IMG 6750


Then, when I returned:
IMG 6880


The Lemon Sunrise clones are growing like vines. Everything else is behaving itself.

Clearly the LS is thinking she has achieved "daddy's little girl" status, and that I'll let her get away with taking up more than her share of tent real estate. Little does she know she's only there to give me a few early buds, and those two bondage poles in her pot mean business.

I learned, long ago, that you have to slap these entitled plants down hard at the first sign of disrespect, or they'll walk all over you. But they're secretly begging for discipline.
 
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