Well, FINALLY.... We're done. We've harvested all 4 of the ladies, and I'm a happy man. I want to point out a few things that I learned from this grow that I think really added to my growing culture. It was one hell of a learning experience doing this on my own, with out the master grower there to help (the dude I lived with and learned from). He did all the important things, I always got stuck with the grunt work. I learned one thing for sure; he's still better than me. hahah. But I'll get there.
1) The master grower definitely used some techniques that I wasn't aware of. I saw him get from 8 to 12 oz's per plant, from plants the same size that mine were. Yet, I don't think I got more than 5 to 7 ounces each from the last 3 plants (maybe a bit more). The runt barely produced over 3 ounces...
2) I did not do any topping, fimming, LST, or anything to my plants, I just let them grow. In order to increase my yields, I believe I will definitely need to use some of those techniques. I believe I will be lollipoping for sure, I may try SOG, and I will definitely be trimming out the bullshit shoots. They were a HUGE waste of energy, and did NOT produce much. I think that energy would have been better served for the main colas. Not to mention that amount of time trying to trim them. That took a lot of time. I don't want to trim bullshit like that ever again. heheh. NOT worth it!
3) Trimming/pruning... I realize now that my yield could have been so much better if I wouldn't have let such a huge canopy cover up so much area. The lower portions of the colas needed a lot more light. With a little work pruning, I could have provided that light, and I would have increased my yield quite a bit, I believe.
4) I will be using a new technique that I just learned. I don't know what it is called, but I am going to call it "Cola Pinching." Basically what you do is, while the plants are in Veg, you "Fake-Break" the main colas. You gently "pinch" them until you can feel the stock go soft, and the cola bend over like it's broken. You do this in 2 or 3 spots, and then tie it up straight and leave it alone. The plant will heal itself, and the stock will get very thick at the points where you "pinched" it. That thickness will transfer to bigger buds when you switch to flowering. But the stem must be completely healed before you switch over.
5) I will call the master grower and try to learn what ever techniques he used to get such good yields compared to mine...I really wanted to avoid having to do this. I don't much care for the guy anymore. He's a sniveling pussy, dick-headed baby bitch!
6) My next flowering will include Co2.
And other techniques that I'll talk about in that thread.
I wanted to point out something in one of the pics (it's pic #15). Basically, it's the plant after all the colas have been removed. Look at how much shit is still left there. I should have pruned that shit out. It was a waste of energy, and took up valuable lumens.. I won't let that happen again.
The first 2 pics are beautiful. I couldn't be happier with the Trichome production. I'm sad to say that I will not be hitting my 3lb goal. I was basing that off of what I saw when I lived with my teacher, and the amounts of weed I saw come off of his plants. I don't get it.... Mine were the same size as his, maybe a little bigger. yet I yielded about half as much as he does per plant! Oh well.. Live and grow and learn. Right?
I want to say thank you to everyone who followed this grow. Thank you for your comments, and all of your support. I feel like I made some good friends on this site, and that's very cool! I'll be starting my new thread soon. I'll be listing all the new techniques that I'll be using, and supporting them with pictures. Especially the "cola pinching" technique. If it works as well as I've heard it does, maybe I can talk a few of you in to trying it too!!
Ok, now.... Bring on the comments. I hope to hear everyone's thoughts on this grow/harvest.
I will have one last update with a final smoke report and a final harvest weight. I do believe I see a little less than 2lb's and hell man, who can be unhappy with that out of 4 plants??? Certainly not me man!!! Hehehe.
-S
PS
I will also paste a link to my next thread here so that you guys will be able to easily find it!
PPS
I wasn't able to get a picture that showed ALL of the harvest hanging in one frame. There are 3 rows of hanging colas, and the lines run about 10 feet long. It just wouldn't fit, so I just took pictures of sections. I tired to get a couple of all of them.. Hope you enjoy..
