MONSTER PLANTS

The important thing is to grow long, of 8-10 months. The weather can be a little bad or cold. In this case must be protected with plastic greenhouse.

AREA

The photos are plants in northern California, but there are a large number of giant plants throughout the state, and there are many in Oregon, which has a slightly cooler climate.

The important thing is to grow long, of 8-10 months. The weather can be a little bad or cold. In this case must be protected with plastic greenhouse. Large plants can be grown almost everywhere in Argentina. Viva las pampas!

GENETIC

The most important factor when choosing the most favorable genetic giants is to have plants that are accustomed to local microclimate. What would I do there in Argentina is to find a good genetic makeup of a good bank (no matter whether it's sativa or indica but above all that well to the outside), a genetic mix with local and cultivate Argentina for six ormore generations to adapt to the microclimate. If we consider that in cultures outside in Argentina we can have three harvests a year, after two years and a good selection, the new genetics will already be accustomed to your microclimate. It is also important to consider genetic resistance to fungi.

CULTURE TIME

For giant plants should be planted and grown for a long time, about 8, 9 or 10 months, because it takes a long time to grow so much.

EARLY STAGES

Giant plants can be obtained either from cuttings and seeds, always taking care that silver is female. It begins growing in small pots and transplant are making as they develop. With 4 or 5 transplants in a month or month and a half, the plant should have a meter or more.The time of transplant is when intertwined roots and bases and sides of the container, which hint at the plant is a slower growth and greater distance intermodal. It is essential to plant them as soon as possible in July or August, to give 8 to 10 months, so for the first time the plants will grow in winter. So it is important or grow them indoors, or outdoors to build a greenhouse to protect them from cold temperatures and strong winds. In the latter case, when the amount of light per day is not sufficient to grow the plants, should be completed daylight hours adding some lamps. You only need low power lights (40-60w) so it will not flourish. If planted in time, rising temperatures and daylight hours increase with the arrival of spring, our plants will have a meter high and we can transplant them to the final floor container or withdraw the benefit of the greenhouse.

MEGA CONTAINERS

Despite what many imagine, growing giant plants do not necessarily require on solid ground. While there are good soils rich in nutrients, if we adjust the composition of the substrate to which desire is more simple to do in containers, where possible the largest, between 900 and 1400 liters in volume and a meter or meter and diameter. It is important that the container is a porous material that allows passage of air. The other option is to dig a well on such measures and there make the mix, but it is much more complex. When near the spring, weather permitting, it is time to move the plant to the final mega container. It is very important that the substrate container is not less than 13 º C. Normally it is not necessary to control the temperature of the substrate, but crops located far south and very cold climates, can be controlled with an electrical resistance inside the container. You can also place the containers on pallets, so they are not touching the ground and thus generates a layer of air between them acts as an insulator.

SUBSTRATE

The choice of substrate depends on the direction one chooses to follow. In the case of chemical use, just put together a good basic substrate and applying the formula chosen for each month or week, because there will always be sucking the chemical and soil life is in the process. But if you choose the course organic soil life is essential, there is no movement under the earth, biological motion. One option for long-term cultures is a good substrate is to build organic compost, manure, organic amendments (such as vermicompost), perlite and vermiculite, plus you can add a handful of blood meal, bone meal, straw and seaweed meal. For example, the plant cover of this issue was grown organically, with a good initial mixing, and is added only two handfuls of bat guano in the fourth month.

IRRIGATION

Normally watered once every two days, with about 90 liters of water per plant, when they are large. But that depends on the sun, wind, weather in general. And also the amount of calcium and magnesium containing the substrate, as these elements make the plant transpire less water. To maintain soil moisture can be put over a layer of mulch made from decaying leaves or freshly cut grass. It is advisable to water at the beginning of the day when the soil an inch below the surface is dry, and always keep in mind that during the flowering plants need more water.
Applies to drip irrigation or hose. Try not to bring in cans / buckets, heavy and too much work. Try to use clean water with low salt, low ppm to 300 ppm.

INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF HOLDING

A good way to support the branches when they grow up is at the time of transplanting to the final container, placed around the circular structure ground wire (not oxide) of a meter in diameter and two high. Many growers, instead of using a stable structure, we are getting from 3 to 20 clubs to hold the branches, but this is very complicated and takes much more work placement and maintenance. Make everything as simple as possible takes less work and the result is usually better.

NETWORKS OF CONTAINMENT

As plants grow, add two layers of networks with holes of approximately 15cm2 so they can spend the branches and buds and remain supported by it. If during the first stage we use greenhouses, we can use the same structure (no clear plastic covering) to hold the first network. Then, when the branches stand out enough of it, put a second external network. The use of two networks over very difficult to harvest.

Pruning
To accomplish great outdoor plants, pruning is recommended but not much (and I mean not much) more in those cases where the plant is cut to stop growing for a while. Pruning is often used apical (cutting the outbreak of the tips of branches), as the plant recover faster and this accelerates the overall growth. It is best to give a round fare to get more sun, which does not happen much when they have the typical form of Pine. If necessary, we can go bending the branches to adapt the plant to the way we want.

HARVEST

The optimum point of harvest is when 50% of the trichomes is creamy translucent color, but if you want a more body, you have to wait until most of the trichomes are amber again. At the time of harvesting giant plants, it is best to harvest progressive (ideally in the morning), removing the first layer of half a meter of buds, then the second and so on until the 3 or 4th harvest, with a difference one or two weeks between each. Thus we get the lower buds to grow more, are made thicker and giving more production, not for nothing the last to be harvested are often the best. Giant plants properly cultivated, like them the photos, can produce 54 kilos if you cut the whole plant at once. But by progressive harvests and reduce labor intensity manicure, you can increase production up to 90 kilos per plant? (That is, you can harvest up to 60 percent more per plant).

I thank my friend Humboldtlocal!

Check out the first of the series,
Jorge Cervantes' Cannabis Expeditions DVD ($14.95)
and see regular uploads on medical gardens at
www.jorgecervantes.tv!