I also thought I read somewhere in here that your feminizing the seed stock, If so, I would follow this recipe, as it is better than anything you can possibly purchase on the internet.
ITEMS YOU WILL NEED WHEN MAKING STS:
Mixing the A and B "Stock" Solutions
STS is stored as two solutions, A & B. When kept sealed, cool and without exposure to light, they are very stable. Separately, they can be stored for months without issue. Once mixed their life span is about 1 month, but only if kept cool, sealed and in the dark. ;)
This mix is diluted with r/o water before spraying on plants.
Stock Solution A
- Fill the pyrex 2-cup measure to the 500ml line with r/o water
- Measure .5 Grams of Silver Nitrate using the digital scale
- Slowly pour the silver nitrate crystals in to the 500ml of r/o water while stirring
- Stir until dissolved (15 seconds)
- Pour the solution in to the 500ml brown glass bottle and cap it tightly
- LABEL the bottle "STS PART A" in a clear and long lasting fashion
- Thoroughly wash and rinse the pyrex measuring cup
Stock Solution B
- Fill the pyrex 2-cup measure to the 500ml mark with r/o water
- Measure 2.5 Grams of Sodium Thiosulfate Anhydrous OR 3.9Grams of Sodium Thiosulfate Pentahydrate
- Add the Sodium Thiosulfate to the r/o water while stirring
- Stir until completely dissolved (30-45 seconds)
- Pour the Sodium Thiosulfate solution in to a 500ml brown glass bottle and cap it tightly
- LABEL the bottle "STS PART B" in a clear and long lasting fashion
- Throughly wash and rinse the pyrex measuring cup
I store these solutions in the 500ml brown glass bottles and mix fresh before diluting for spraying. It is best to keep them in the fridge. ;)
Mixing and Diluting the Stock Solutions Before Spraying
ALWAYS Mix Part A in to Part B! This means putting part B in a container first and then adding part A while stirring. The measurements listed here make 1 quart, which fits the size of the sprayer and bottles I posted above. This amount provides plenty of solution for a 2' tall plant, sprayed every 5 days for 30 days.
When stored in a dark cool place, the mixed solution is effective for approximately 1 month. The A and B solutions will be effective for at least 6 months.
For 1 Quart of Solution: which will fit the sprayer listed:
- Use a 60cc syringe and suck up 50ml of Part B solution
- Gently squirt the Part B solution in to the Pyrex measuring cup
- Completely rinse the syringe or use a second clean syringe
- Suck up 50cc of Part B Solution
- While stirring the stock solution in the measuring cup rapidly (I use a small Stainless Steel Whisk), gently squirt the 50cc's of Part A solution in to the measuring cup. Go slowly, yet quickly enough to completely mix them within 30 seconds.
REMEMBER it's IMPORTANT to DILUTE!
Without dilution this solution will burn plants When the above directions are followed you will have 100ml of mixed stock solution in a pyrex measuring cup. Pour this solution into the 1 quart, brown glass bottle with the sprayer top and then fill the bottle the rest of the way with r/o or distilled water. (800+ml)
This dilution rate is very close to a 1:9, stock:water mixture. Add 6-10 drops of Dawn Ultra dish soap (or other soap/surfactant, some people use
yucca extract), shake gently and spray until the soap mixture is being sprayed. Test it on a leaf. The mixture should stick to the leaf without beading up and rolling off.
If necessary, add additional drops of soap until the solution sticks/spreads well. You can also use
Yucca extract as a spreader/surfactant, instead of the dish soap. (I cannot reccomend Tween-80 even though other have said it works. I personally cannot use it without having serious memory, mood and logic problems when exposed to the Polysorbate in Tween-80.)
Light Proof the Sprayer Bottle!
I know it's a brown glass bottle and a black plastic top, I still covered it further. Since I keep it in the fridge, there is definitely strong light when the door is open. ;) I put the sprayer in a black plastic trash bag and folded it in a few layers around the bottle, then taped it in place. It's not sexy, but it works. :) You can see it in the photo of the chemicals and bottles above.
Staying Safe!
WEAR PERSONAL PROTECTION GEAR, including gloves, mask and goggles/glasses. You'll want to keep this off your skin and out of your mouth/lungs. Sodium Thiosulfate has no listed toxicity but it is an irritant with repeated exposure. Silver nitrate will stain surfaces brown, only light stains when mixed with sodium thiosulfate and diluted.
I sprayed my hand once, it felt 'cold' for days. Not a good sign, so I'm careful to protect myself from spray and inhalation. The solution rinses off of gloves and surfaces just fine, change out of any clothing you accidentally spill it on.
Spraying Methods and Schedule
That being said, the process of treating your plants with STS is very straightforward. There's debate about spraying each node or using an eye-dropper on each node. I use the spray method and I know it works.
- Spray Every 5 Days After Lights Out
Silver Thiosulfate stops the production of ethylene. This effect only lasts a few days in cannabis and spraying every 5 days keeps ethylene production the lowest. Turn off the main lights and spray before the night cycle. Silver thiosulfate is sensitive to light, so low lighting and then dark works well.
- Dilute Further if Burning/Yellowing Develops
Some strains/phenotypes of cannabis are more sensitive than others. Should yellowing or burning develop, pour out some of the solution in the sprayer (with lots of rinse water down the drain) and add distilled or r/o water.
- Keep STS Out of the Root Zone
Cover the base area of the plant with newspapers before spraying. Make sure the plant has completely stopped dripping before removing the newspapers or other barriers.
- Saturate Each Node With Spray
The nodes are located at each spot where a leaf joins a branch. During vegetative growth, each node will eventually produce another branch. During flowering, each node produces flowers.
- Turn Off Fans Before Pollen Begins Dropping
Pollen is insidious and will float in to every crack and corner of your house. HEPA filtered ventilation (even HEPA rated furnace filters work) will significantly reduce the spread of pollen. Spray down all pollen covered areas with clean water to deactivate pollen.
- Dilute Solution if Plants Show Burning
A slight reaction is fine, while severe reactions require diluting with additional distilled or r/o water. Open up the spray bottle and top it off with about 1/3rd of a cup of distilled or r/o water. Pour a bit out first, if there won't be room.
