jerichojews
Well-Known Member
Not sure i've seen an explanation regarding how adding alfalfa to teas can be harmful during flower.
Anybody know?
Anybody know?
Why is it bad to use alfalfa in tea during late flower?
- Thread starter jerichojews
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greasemonkeymann
Well-Known Member
this is something that is a debate/theory rather than a fact, I have looked and looked and looked and haven't found anything stating that it is indeed bad for flowering.
the reasoning is that triacantrol (probably spelled wrong) may delay or lengthen flowering due to it's growth properties/attributes etc.
But it's been pointed out to me by a couple growers that use alfalfa all during growth and they swear it doesn't affect the flowering at all.
I don't use alfalfa in my soil, not because I don't like it, but because I don't have any more room for nutrients, I use the bejesus out of it in my compost though.
And teas too.
best thing to do is see for yourself.
The best way to figure out a lot of the "fine tuning" when it comes to cannabis growing.
jerichojews
Well-Known Member
Makes sense well enough. However, it seems strange that during the last half of flower, when the plant is essentially done growing vertically, that it would restart the process of stretching.
Pattahabi
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure he said to use Alfalfa during the first few weeks of flower to reduce internodel stretch.
Personally I wouldn't have any issue using an alfalfa tea later on in flower if they were running out of steam. Probably not my first line of attack, but I wouldn't say it can't be done.
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hyroot
Well-Known Member
I read a thread in ic rag that he posted on. It wasn't his thread though. It may have opposite effects during flower than veg. Like lighting. That's just guessing. I have noticed flowering has taken longer when using it into week 6. That was in a tea. I didn't realize I watering with the veg tea on flowereing plants that time til it was too late.
Pattahabi
Well-Known Member
I'll assume it was the ROLS/notill thread. Without seeing what he wrote it's hard to say, but I'm going to guess he was talking about vegetative growth, and not stretch. He has posted many times to use alfalfa to reduce stretching.
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hyroot
Well-Known Member
the thread was titled alfalfa meal during flower or something similar.
Pattahabi
Well-Known Member
If you can find the quote you should post it up. Sometimes it's difficult to paraphrase Coot and/or the posts can be severely outdated.Especially from IC mag. He hasn't posted on that site in over 2 years.
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greasemonkeymann
Well-Known Member
if that were the case I could see the advantage of using it on some afghans and such that literally stop growing and squat down like frogs when flowered. I've had strains that were so squatty that past the first 6 inches of the cola (granted it looked like a pineapple) but past that, the denseness was so crazy the inner buds were kinda yellowish-white from lack of light... dense as hell and CRAZY strong herb.. too strong for my liking, but i'm a sativa guy..
But hey if I could have added even an extra inch between those nodes those inner nugs would have been WAY nicer/bigger.
Interesting though, I have pondered on whether or not it's akin to the old "nitrogen is bad for flowering phase" theory/wive's tale
I'd try it but it wouldn't be even remotely conclusive, my soil is packed full of amendments and I usually don't give them nutrient teas anyways, other than SSTs/aloe/coconut/comfrey/dandelion (love that shit)... hmm, ok I guess I give them lots of teas, but not the traditional nutrient ones.. I think i'd have to start with a more neutral media, and feed it hydroponically with alfalfa teas to see...
I'm a living soil grower, neutral medias aren't my thing..
DonTesla
Well-Known Member
It's active ingredient, triacantanol, avail in only a few things, is a rare growth hormone that induces stacked rapid, growth, with a lack of stretch, generally recommended in the first two weeks of flower, when stretch peaks..
Good luck!
My question is how would one make the ideal tea not too hot..
OutofLEDCloset
Well-Known Member
That boogie brew guy talks about it on vid. He puts it in there with with 16 other things. The dude likes his tea. heres the link
Pattahabi
Well-Known Member
Coot said you can use alfalfa later in flower. However, he said he promotes kelp, that doesn't mean add 33% kelp in your soil mix. Use some common sense. Don't be doing something dumb like adding synthetic TRIA - that can screw things up in a hurry if you don't know what you're doing.
@DonTesla I don't know what you mean by ideal tea, but I use 1c alfalfa in 5 gallons of water, bubble for 24 hours, drench. Coot said the highest levels of TRIA are found in Alfalfa seeds. So an alfalfa sst would be an excellent way to deliver this PGR. Note to all, alfalfa seeds are potent. I use like 2 tbsp per 5 gallons. I might even start with a little less and work up.
Peace!
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@DonTesla I don't know what you mean by ideal tea, but I use 1c alfalfa in 5 gallons of water, bubble for 24 hours, drench. Coot said the highest levels of TRIA are found in Alfalfa seeds. So an alfalfa sst would be an excellent way to deliver this PGR. Note to all, alfalfa seeds are potent. I use like 2 tbsp per 5 gallons. I might even start with a little less and work up.
Peace!
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ElfoodStampo
Well-Known Member
I made tea once, It was a total waste of time.
Pattahabi
Well-Known Member
Can you elaborate?
DonTesla
Well-Known Member
Well thats good..we do have kelp and alfalfa meal in our amendment profile. But do they (kelp and alf) know when we need them most?
I got a nice lil tea recipe for using alf meal now, but appreciate response still, cause mine was two stages but left out amounts..
Bubble some water, molasses and alfalfa for 24 hrs.
Add worm castings and bubble another 24 hr
I was thinking tsp of alf meal per litre so 5ml / 1000 or 0.05%.
-you're talking about 16 TBSP meal per ~20 L .. Or 2.5 tsp per litre. 2.5x more.
So in between, can't go wrong ? Lol
Planning to start this today..
Cheers
Pattahabi
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry, I don't understand? What is your question?
100 ways to skin a cat, but I keep my acts and nutrient teas separate.
I always use a recipe at half strength and work up just to make sure. With that said, I've used 1c alfalfa and 1/2c kelp per 5 gallons many times without issue.
Peace!
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