This episode cover A LOT over a ten day span of grow documentation. While I have been going through a lot personally, my grow has as well. I had almost everything bad happen to my plants this year, and the closer they get to finishing, the more problems seemingly pop up. This year's obstacles include my entire greenhouse collapsing on my plants TWICE (bending tops and breaking branches), aphids, still mites, caterpillars eating my big buds and causing botrytis (and botrytis caused by extreme weather), high heat and constant direct light for long periods causing heat stress and light burn, damaging wind storms & uncharacteristic lightning storms, nutrient burn, nutrient deficiencies from nute-lockout, random rains before and after heat waves, burning from Safer brand products twice, removing two HUGE plants from the garden that turned out to be males (one of which was over 7 ft tall), light leaks into the grow from a neighbor's house, drug addicts jumping the fence to the backyard attempting to steal the plants on two separate occasions, and constantly stepping in dog feces in the backyard from animals I do not own. The only problem I seemed to avoid was pythium (root rot), which may have still occurred on some of my sick plants (I won't know for sure until I pull more root balls).
Despite all of this, I took all the necessary steps to create the most ideal environment possible to help my plants survive... and survive they did - and are (for the most part) ready to be harvested soon. I have actually already harvested 1 1/2 Monsterberry plants, and 1/2 of a Vampire.
The following episode covers how I repaired my greenhouse after two poles snapped off during a wind storm and collapsed on my grow, how I released ladybug swarms to handle any remaining aphids and mites, how to recognize botrytis and how to react to it, how to wash cannabis flowers to expel worms and worm debris, how to harvest ONLY half of a cannabis plant, garden security tips (and products) to alert you when thieves are trespassing in your grow (so you can sleep at night), and viable solutions for a late stage caterpillar infestation that has the potential to take out your entire grow.
While researching the various solutions for treating a caterpillar infestation, I came across a very interesting biological method of treatment: releasing Spined Soldier Bugs into your garden. I unfortunately was not able to source these bugs locally in time to actually utilize them effectively, and was forced to treat the problem with a Safer brand version of BT spray (organic bacteria), which usually leaves the plant within 14 days of application, but is also (fortunately for me since I had to take down some plants earlier than anticipated) safe for human consumption.
Image Source
The Spined Solider Bug also known as Podisus Maculiventris, is not to be confused with it's close cousin the Stink Bug, that has a very different scientific name of Halyomorpha Halys. This viscous attack bug (which may actually be genetically engineered by humans - no confirmation however) impales it's prey and sucks out it's internal juices. This species is highly carnivorous however, so it is recommended to only release one bug per plant unless your plants are excessively large (in which case spread them far across the plant for max separation).
"The spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris, is a native North American insect found from Quebec to Florida, from New England to the Pacific. It is a "generalist" and can feed on over 50 different types of prey, primarily the larvae of beetles and moths. While more common in southern areas of the U.S., this predator can be readily found in many crop and non-crop environments in the Midwest. The spined soldier bug is one of the generalist predators that help keep pest populations low in crops such as alfalfa, soybeans and fruit crops. This bug has "piecing-sucking" mouth-parts which it uses to impale prey and suck out their internal juices. Occasionally, the bugs enjoy a little salad with their meat, by sucking on plants to obtain moisture. The plants aren't harmed and the bugs don't transmit disease. In a way, by providing moisture to predators, the plants help to keep the predator around until pests appear!" (1).
Here is the series so far:
Episode 2: Transplanting Cannabis, Organic Pest Control, Strain Varieties
Episode 3: Preparing Your Grow Space, Treating Burnt Plants
Episode 5: Transplanting into Final Grow Space, Topping Plants, & Finishing Animal Fencing
Episode 6: Applying Proper Feedings with Organic Nutrients
Episode 7: Feeding After Topping, Storm Damage, Selective Leaf Removal, & Caging Cannabis
Episode 8: Final Topping, Leaf Removal, & Safely Sacrificing a Male Plant
OR
Click here for links to all the 2018 Episodes
Trailer Park Boys Style
Please enjoy episode 14 of this year's Backyard Cannabis Farming series. Hopefully we all acquire wisdom for growing cannabis effectively and organically together.
From 9/18/2019 - 9/28/2019
Reference:
- http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/kyf208.html
- Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible by: Jorge Cervantes
Blessings everyone & stay tuned - into the right frequencies
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This are amazing buds!!!!
Thank you, it was not an easy challenge to get them this time.
I wish I can be there to look at Cannabis...man..you posted a tempteful plants..hah..:))
Thanks for sharing with on NaturalProducts.Today and I hope you can read our guidelines using #naturalproducts here.
Hi there, thank you for the link to the posting rules. I certainly have fulfilled all the criteria listed in the guidelines bulletpoints you linked here, however I do have one question. While I happened to also cite two credible sources (.edu and a notorious cannabis grow bible) in this post, with all else being original content, I noticed there is a slight contradiction in your posting rules.
The two that collide are as follows:
Original content only
&
Must source media that is not your own
You can only have one or the other, you cannot have ONLY original content and also cite content that is not your own, that is impossible. In this post however I do have both, but I do not always cite sources unless I deem in necessary to prove the validity of my accounts.
Let me know what your thoughts are on this, you may want to slightly re-word these guidelines. I usually only use the #naturalproducts tag when I am posting about my organic cannabis cultivation methods, or eco-conscious clothing creation/promotion. I may also use it with future posts about wire wrapping jewelry with silver and natural gems, and organic permaculture gardening using heirloom non-GMO genetics.
@elamental, you're right! same happened to me after a lot of NTRL staking and original content ONLY :)
Now I'm powering down this token :)
So I can vote for your post now, while still having them :P
Thanks for the support. I hope you got something useful out of it. Do you grow cannabis flowers?
Hehe... I have some experience during the past 20 years, but in my home country it is still a delicate question, although in our neighbor countries medical crop is being now grown by big companies. For example in Greece, where my second home could be ;)
Been on the first EXPO last year:
https://busy.org/@trayan/balkanabis-1st-cannabis-expo-in-greece
@elamental We admire all the people who are dedicated to sowing, we know that it is a difficult job and must be done with much dedication and if something goes wrong, re-plan and start again, we wish you success.
In this case if something goes wrong... take all steps necessary to help them survive until completion. These plants are coming down now and are yielding results despite all this season's hardships. Hard work, investment, and dedication pays off even in the worst circumstances. Bless up.
Oh congratulations, my friend