Steve6077
- 9
- 3
This state (New Mexico - state nickname: The Land of Enchantment) finally legalized growing cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use as of July 29, 2021. As a cancer patient a few years ago I learned some of the value of cannabis. This is my first grow, a few weeks old.
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Seeds-- I decided to grow feminized seed (I'm now thinking regular might be better). Planted one each of Blueberry CBD, Harlequin, Afghan landrace (the tallest of the plants pictured), Northern Lights, and Gold Leaf (all from ILGM.com), and a Purple Haze auto fem., one of a number of varieties purchased from Seedsman. Kind of confused and disappointed with the huge number of named varieties of cannabis that are being marketed or promoted at present. "The latest and greatest" isn't always the best, or so I'm inclined to think. I've started to look for particular sources, growers and breeders that I might develop a favorable opinion of and can have some respect for over a longer term, including for strains that have been around a while, tried and tested favorites or promising crosses.
I have experience growing plants, and really enjoy it (helps keep me grounded), but this is my first experience with cannabis. Compared to other plants I've had an interest in and learned to grow, cannabis seems pretty easy, just about as vigorous and robust as the weeds we normally try to keep down around here, like Russian Thistle (tumbleweeds), Kochia and Pigweed.
So far, so good. I'm trying to be alert to any deficiencies or needs the plants and their soil and cultural conditions might necessitate. I've realized a few things. These plants don't seem to need or want much water at all. They aren't fragile little delicate plants that need lots of careful attention. Instead, they seem naturally hardy, adaptable and robust, and I think that they are more likely to be killed by too _much_ attention, than by a bit of negligence. I'm finding that because they don't (seem to) like to be wet (or like to dry out between waterings), I think I'll migrate away from trying to supply their nutrient and other needs dissolved in water, which I typically do for my water-hungry tomatoes in the greenhouse, and try to experiment with and improve the potting soil to the extent that they will grow and flourish just about without any need for liquid nutrition, unless a nutrient or mineral deficiency becomes apparent.
Fabric pots (3-gallon size)-- I'm starting not to like them. It's difficult to water when it just runs to the edges and down the sides of the fabric pot and spills out onto the ground without wetting the root zone of the plant. I've been dunking them into a larger container filled with water instead, so they can suck up water from the bottom and sides of these pots.
I'm also realizing that cannabis makes a really substantial, extensive root network, and a 3-gallon pot hardly seems sufficient unless I'm going to "bonsai" them with lots of pruning and fairly aggressive trimming. I think I might look for some other kinds of pots to grow them in, and would appreciate any suggestions. I've traditionally (for me) not liked thin, black plastic pots because the sides get baking or burning hot in this high altitude sun, which I can't help but think makes it hard on the roots. So I'm wondering about white plastic pots, insulated pots of some kind (I wish the polyurethane foam pots popular a few years ago were still commonly available, and not so ridiculously expensive as they became), or nursery bags of some kind, as well as some good sources for those kind of things (recommendations appreciated).
So, this is my first go round with cannabis, but with many years of experience with other plants, making compost, different soil conditions and amendments.
The other day I did my first trim to open up the canopy and remove the shade from the smaller shoots growing from the stems, and instead of throwing those leaves away, I let them dry in the greenhouse in indirect light and lots of breeze, and I added some to my last pot of tea for the day as it brewed. I have neuropathy from the cancer (in remission for 5 years now and considered cured), and various body aches and pains, and that night, while not sensing any noticeable "high" or "stoned" effects, I had one of the most gently relaxed, restful and refreshing sleeps I've had in years. Felt really great the next morning. So last night (several days after trying that first mix of regular (camelia chinensis) and cannabis tea) I made some more in my last pot for the day, and the same thing happened. So I'm starting to think it might not be just a coincidence.
--
Seeds-- I decided to grow feminized seed (I'm now thinking regular might be better). Planted one each of Blueberry CBD, Harlequin, Afghan landrace (the tallest of the plants pictured), Northern Lights, and Gold Leaf (all from ILGM.com), and a Purple Haze auto fem., one of a number of varieties purchased from Seedsman. Kind of confused and disappointed with the huge number of named varieties of cannabis that are being marketed or promoted at present. "The latest and greatest" isn't always the best, or so I'm inclined to think. I've started to look for particular sources, growers and breeders that I might develop a favorable opinion of and can have some respect for over a longer term, including for strains that have been around a while, tried and tested favorites or promising crosses.
I have experience growing plants, and really enjoy it (helps keep me grounded), but this is my first experience with cannabis. Compared to other plants I've had an interest in and learned to grow, cannabis seems pretty easy, just about as vigorous and robust as the weeds we normally try to keep down around here, like Russian Thistle (tumbleweeds), Kochia and Pigweed.
So far, so good. I'm trying to be alert to any deficiencies or needs the plants and their soil and cultural conditions might necessitate. I've realized a few things. These plants don't seem to need or want much water at all. They aren't fragile little delicate plants that need lots of careful attention. Instead, they seem naturally hardy, adaptable and robust, and I think that they are more likely to be killed by too _much_ attention, than by a bit of negligence. I'm finding that because they don't (seem to) like to be wet (or like to dry out between waterings), I think I'll migrate away from trying to supply their nutrient and other needs dissolved in water, which I typically do for my water-hungry tomatoes in the greenhouse, and try to experiment with and improve the potting soil to the extent that they will grow and flourish just about without any need for liquid nutrition, unless a nutrient or mineral deficiency becomes apparent.
Fabric pots (3-gallon size)-- I'm starting not to like them. It's difficult to water when it just runs to the edges and down the sides of the fabric pot and spills out onto the ground without wetting the root zone of the plant. I've been dunking them into a larger container filled with water instead, so they can suck up water from the bottom and sides of these pots.
I'm also realizing that cannabis makes a really substantial, extensive root network, and a 3-gallon pot hardly seems sufficient unless I'm going to "bonsai" them with lots of pruning and fairly aggressive trimming. I think I might look for some other kinds of pots to grow them in, and would appreciate any suggestions. I've traditionally (for me) not liked thin, black plastic pots because the sides get baking or burning hot in this high altitude sun, which I can't help but think makes it hard on the roots. So I'm wondering about white plastic pots, insulated pots of some kind (I wish the polyurethane foam pots popular a few years ago were still commonly available, and not so ridiculously expensive as they became), or nursery bags of some kind, as well as some good sources for those kind of things (recommendations appreciated).
So, this is my first go round with cannabis, but with many years of experience with other plants, making compost, different soil conditions and amendments.
The other day I did my first trim to open up the canopy and remove the shade from the smaller shoots growing from the stems, and instead of throwing those leaves away, I let them dry in the greenhouse in indirect light and lots of breeze, and I added some to my last pot of tea for the day as it brewed. I have neuropathy from the cancer (in remission for 5 years now and considered cured), and various body aches and pains, and that night, while not sensing any noticeable "high" or "stoned" effects, I had one of the most gently relaxed, restful and refreshing sleeps I've had in years. Felt really great the next morning. So last night (several days after trying that first mix of regular (camelia chinensis) and cannabis tea) I made some more in my last pot for the day, and the same thing happened. So I'm starting to think it might not be just a coincidence.
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