Summary

Magnesium is a vital element for humans, plants and animals. Among other things it is a building block for chlorophyll in plants so it is essential for photosynthesis and it also plays an important role in a number of metabolic processes. Magnesium compounds have been used since antiquity in medicine for heartburn, against poisoning and as a laxative. Magnesium powder is used on equipment for gymnastic exercises because it makes the hands rough and absorbs moisture. Magnesium is a very light, malleable, elastic metal with a silver-white sheen that burns with a blinding light in the air. It is one of the most common elements on earth and the earth’s crust contains approx. 2.09% magnesium, but only in compound form. Magnesium compounds are frequently found in seawater, salt deposits, water from salt lakes and in some mineral waters. It is also present in tap water and, together with calcium, is responsible for the hardness of water. Inorganic, magnesium fertilizers are prepared from the same salts as are used when preparing potassium fertilizers. When grown from seeds cannabis don’t need extra nutrients for the first two weeks.

• There are no visible symptoms in the first 3 – 4 weeks, the plant continues to grow well, is dark green and looks healthy.

• The deficiency symptoms first become visible in cannabis after 4 – 6 weeks when small, rust brown necrotic spots and/or cloud-like chlorosis appear under the flowering top on the middle-aged leaves. The color of the young leaves and the development of the flowers remains normal.

• The size and number of the rust brown spots increases on the leaves while the chlorosis also spreads and becomes yellower.

• The symptoms spread throughout the plant which will now look a sorry sight.

• If it is a serious deficiency the young leaves will also become chlorotic and production will fall.

Developments in chronological order:

Symptoms

Magnesium is mobile in the marijuana plant so if there is a deficiency, the chloroplasts in the middle-aged leaves that are below the flowering top are broken down and the magnesium is transported to the young parts. This process of breaking down the chlorophyll is manifested in the rust brown spots and/or vague, cloud-like chlorotic spots between the veins. It is more difficult to extract magnesium from the older leaves because the magnesium is an intrinsic part of the organic material. A minor magnesium deficiency has little effect on flowering despite the fact that the formation of flowers makes the magnesium deficiency symptoms worse.

Development

• There are no visible symptoms in the first 3 – 4 weeks, the plant continues to grow well, is dark green and looks healthy.
  

  

• The deficiency symptoms first become visible in cannabis after 4 – 6 weeks when small, rust brown necrotic spots and/or cloud-like chlorosis appear under the flowering top on the middle-aged leaves. The colour of the young leaves and the development of the flowers is still normal.

• The size and number of the rust brown spots increases on the leaves while the chlorosis also increases and becomes yellower.

• The symptoms spread throughout the plant which will now look a sorry sight.

• If it is a serious deficiency the young leaves will also become chlorotic and production will fall.

Possible causes

Magnesium deficiencies in cannabis occur more often relative to other deficiencies. Magnesium deficiency in the root environment can also occur when magnesium levels are normal or high as well as when there is a deficiency. This is because absorption can be slowed down by all sorts of circumstances.

Some of these are:

• A very wet, cold and/or acidic root environment.

• High levels of potassium, ammonium and/or calcium (for example a lot of lime in the tap water or lime rich, clay ground) compared with the magnesium levels.

• Limited root system and a heavy load on the plants.

• High EC in the medium, inhibited evaporation.

What should you do?

• Use fertilizers that contain magnesium as a preventative measure and spray with Epsom salts as a curative measure.

• Check the temperature, humidity, EC and pH in the soil or substrate.

• Go to the shop for expert advice. They specialize in this crop and have the right products available. Correctly formulated fertilizer contains sufficient magnesium.

• If it has been established that there is a deficiency you should spray with a 2% solution of Epsom salts.

Fertilizing via the roots: Inorganic: Epsom salts on hydro, kieserite on soil. Organic: old, rotten stable or turkey manure.

• Correct possible causes: If the pH is too low (< 5) when cultivating in soil use turkey manure which contains magnesium. With hydro cultivation temporarily drip feed the nutrient solution at a higher pH of 6.5. If the EC is too high rinse and/or drip feed with just tap water temporarily. When cultivating inside keep the root temperature above 19 ?C (20-25 ?C).

A little extra magnesium won’t do any harm and excess magnesium doesn’t occur very often when cultivating with soil. If there is too much magnesium, calcium absorption will slow down and it will look like there is too much salt because growth will slow down and the crop will turn dark green.

With permission from the Department of Primary Industries, they are in the first stages of a pilot project aimed at teaching farmers how to grow hemp and commercialise its countless byproducts.

The Friars are hemp evangelists, firm believers in the world-changing potential of this most versatile of plants, which can be used in everything from food to fabrics and building materials.

With permission from the Department of Primary Industries, they are in the first stages of a pilot project aimed at teaching farmers how to grow hemp and commercialise its myriad byproducts.

The Friars’ crop, a mix of Chinese cultivars known as Yellow River and Lulu, is a fine example: the stalks can be used in the textile and construction industries – “they even use it, instead of steel, to reinforce concrete” – while the seeds can be eaten.

In December the couple applied to Food Standards for permission to sell the seed for human consumption, with approval expected early next year.

“They are a real superfood,” Wendy says. “It’s 23 per cent protein, and has more Omega 3 and Omega 6 than virtually any other source, including fish.

”In the early 1800s, Australia was twice saved from famine by eating virtually nothing but hemp seed for protein and hemp leaves for roughage.”

But the couple also plan to become brokers for hemp products, importing seeds and matching overseas and local producers with those undertaking retail or construction projects.

“We want to kickstart consumer demand,” Wendy explains. “It’s hard, though, because hemp has for so long been vilified as a dangerous drug.”

A film-maker, farmer, former horse trainer and grade rugby union player, Mr Friar has long been interested in permaculture and recycling; his company King Poo was one of the first to sell worm farms in the early 1990s. But it is hemp that has him raving.

“As a grandfather several times over, I am championing this now as the answer to a lot of our sustainability problems. We just have to lose the baggage we have about hemp, and approach it in a more mature way.”

Here’s a piece I found on Marc Emery on U.S TV – it includes an interview with his wife Jodie Emery and is well worth a watch!

Marc is one of the figureheads of the cannabis legalization movement and his treatment by U.S and Canandian prosecutors who circumvented normal procedure to extradite him from Canada is both contradictory and illegal in our eyes.  Further information can be found at drugwarrant.com

Just thought we’d share some helpful tips on what NOT to do when growing cannabis:

• 1. Don?t Over water – Over watering kills weed plants. Water once the top few inches of the soil dry out.  Hydroponics is harder to over water because rockwool has such excellent drainage properties. As long as the rockwool cubes are not sitting in liquid it is virtually impossible to over water a hydroponic setup. A hydroponic setup could either be watered constantly as the drip method, or once to three times a day as in the flood and drain method.

• 2. Don?t Tell People – Why? They will only be jealous. People love to feel important and that is why they will tell other people; because others will listen to them. – Keep it to yourself.

• 3. Touch/kill Germinating Seeds – Please have some patience. It sometimes takes 10 days for a seed to sprout. The paper towel method is recommended but be careful  because you must handle the seeds when transferring them from the paper towel to your growing medium. This must be done with extreme care!

• 4. Grow seeds from seeded weed – One of the greatest disappointments known to the growing man.

90% of what the final product will be is in the seed?s genetics and has little to do with the environment the plant is grown in.

Many get their hands on the seed and think they have a gold mine. They will probably grow something like this: hermaphrodites, tall late flowering females coupled with early flowering males. This is because the only pollen that could have produced the seed was from a hermaphrodite or a very stunted and late flowering male the grower did not notice. Unless you are prepared for possible disappointment don?t use “unknown”  cannabis seeds. This is why people buy seeds from seedbanks such as Sensi Seeds, White Label Seeds, Weed Seed Shop or Flying Dutchmen.

• 5. Don?t Over fertilize -Fertilize after first 2 spiked leaves appear follow the label. DON?T FERTILIZE EVERY TIME YOU WATER!!! Start with 25% and work your way up!  Leach the plants with lots of pure water every 2-4 weeks.  If the leaves suddenly twist or fold under, Leach and Spray with pure water for several days!

• 6. Don?t Under fertilize – Under fertilizing is less common but it happens. If you are one of those people that likes to give the plant just enough nutrients make sure you use a organic soil mixture with blood meal and bone meal or some slow release fertilizer with micro nutrients.

• 7. Don?t Start Too Early Outdoors – For several reasons! If you are starting outdoors June 1 is perfect. But if I start earlier I will get bigger buds right? Probably Wrong! Its strange but usually true: Plants started in early spring will get big but they will take significantly longer to start flowering. This is because at the peak vegetative period they sense the light cycles getting longer and longer, until June 21. But they don?t realize that its time to flower yet. Finally in the middle of August the plant says “HEY” “time to flower already” and it produces buds in August and September or later they will be tall as trees but thinner buds due to the fact that the sun is not as strong in September. Now if the ganja plants were put out later, as soon as they get a foot off the ground they say “what?s going on” I am just in early veggie and the light hours aren?t getting longer in fact SHORTER” Then the plants go crazy and since the sun is so bright in July and August you get amazing 6 foot trees that are heavier than the plants started in April!!! in addition to finishing earlier the late started plants are not nearly as noticeable.

Indoors is the same for different reasons. The light cannot penetrate more than a foot or two. So flower when plants are a foot tall. If you wait longer because you want bigger yields, you will get smaller yields and wait longer for them.

• 8. Don?t Start too Late Outdoors – Plants need atleast a few weeks growing time before flowering starts as the summer days get shorter.  Starting too late in the summer will lead to small and/or immature plants by the time the season ends (harvest time)

• 9. Don?t Provide A Bad Environment – Always provide air circulation and fresh air even during the night cycle is fine. All the air indoors should be replaced every 5-10 minutes.  Humidity between 30-70% temp aim for around 75-85? Even seedlings need a gentle fan to strengthen the stems.

• 10. Don?t Harvest Too Early – We know its hard. You see the buds and resin forming at a rapid rate. The buds are potent and you feel tempted to chop em down! The only problem is that another 25% of the weight will form in 2 more weeks. Wait until the plants have totally stopped growing and the white pistils are at least 50-75% brown.

*NOTE: Outdoors if security is a factor make your own call on when to sacrifice the fields. Also take buds continuously in case of thieves.* ]]> http://weedforneed.com/2009/10/the-10-biggest-mistakes-growers-make/feed/ 0 http://weedforneed.com/2009/07/oakland-imposes-a-tax-on-the-sale-of-medicinal-marijuana/ http://weedforneed.com/2009/07/oakland-imposes-a-tax-on-the-sale-of-medicinal-marijuana/#comments Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:29:49 +0000 kanaman http://marijuanacannabis.wordpress.com/?p=600 ]]>

The city of Oakland became the first place in America to impose a tax on the sale of medicinal marijuana this week in what has been seen as a huge step on the path towards marijuana’s eventual decriminalization. Famed for its liberal stance on the subject, Oakland (fondly dubbed Oaksterdam by the cannabis community) city council backed the move by unanimously voting through a proposition to allow voters a chance to have their say on Measure F.

Proposed by the city’s 4 “cannabis clubs” themselves as a way of contributing towards the local economy, Measure F imposes a tax of 1.8% on the sale of medical marijuana – $18 on every $1000 sold. “It is important because the city of Oakland is facing a massive deficit like many jurisdictions in California,” says Steve DeAngelo, a leader of one of the city’s cannabis clubs.. “And we decided to step up to the plate and make a contribution to the city in a time of need.” Measure F was passed into state law last Tuesday with 80% of voters backing the proposal in a special postal ballot.

Source: CNN.com

Posted in Cannabis News, medicinal, Society and Cannabis ]]> http://weedforneed.com/2009/07/oakland-imposes-a-tax-on-the-sale-of-medicinal-marijuana/feed/ 0 http://weedforneed.com/2009/07/cycle-times/ http://weedforneed.com/2009/07/cycle-times/#comments Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:00:42 +0000 kanaman http://marijuanagrowingbook.com/?p=95 Given the above data it can take anywhere between 10 weeks and 36 weeks for a plant to grow to maturity. That is, again, anywhere between 2.5 months to 9 months. The most common grow time is 3 to 4 months. All this is dependent on the strain that you choose. Pure Sativa can run anywhere into the 6 -9 month bracket. Indica can flower in 6 weeks. As you can image a Sativa/Indica plant will fall into the 2 -4 month flowering period.

As you know plant would grow in three main stages. Germination, Vegetative growth and flowering. Plants actually grow in 6 stages. Here is the life cycle of the cannabis plant.

Germination:

This is the initial stage of growth and occurs when your seed??™s embryo cracks open and the seedling produces a root. This root fixes itself into the soil and pushes the newborn seeding up and over the soil surface. Following surface contact two embryonic leaves open outwards to receive sunlight, pushing the empty seed shell away from the seedling. It takes anywhere between 12 hours to 3 weeks for seeds to germinate. Once the plant has reached this stage it goes into the seedling stage.

Seedling Stage:

After the first pair of embryonic leaves are receiving light (Figure 2.12), the plant will begin to produce another small set of new leaves. These leaves are different from the last and may have some Marijuana characteristics such as the three-rounded finger shaped points. As the seedling grows, more of these leaves are formed and bush upwards along with a stem. Some stems are very weak at this stage and need the support of a small thin wooden stake tied to the seedling with some fine thread. The seedling stage can last between 1 and 3 weeks. At the end of the seedling stage your plant will have maybe 4 -8 new leaves. Some of the old bottom leaves may drop off.

Vegetative Growth:

The plant now begins to grow at the rate which its leaves can produce energy. At this stage the plant needs all the light and food it can get. It will continue to grow upwards producing new leaves as it moves along (Figure 2.13). It will also produce a thicker stem with thicker branches and with more fingers on the leaves. It will eventually start to show its sex. When it does this it is time for the plant??™s pre-flowering stage. It can take anywhere between 1 and 5 months for the plant to hit this next stage.

Pre-flowering:

At this stage the plant slows down in developing its height and starts to produce more branches and nodes. The plant fills out in the pre-flowering stage. During this phase of the plant cycle your plant will start to show a calyx which appears where the branches meet the stem (nodes). Pre-flowering can take anywhere between 1 day to 2 weeks. (See last page of this book for pre-flowering/calyx illustration)

Vegetative Growth:

The plant now begins to grow at the rate which its leaves can produce energy. At this stage the plant needs all the light and food it can get. It will continue to grow upwards producing new leaves as it moves along (Figure 2.13). It will also produce a thicker stem with thicker branches and with more fingers on the leaves. It will eventually start to show its sex. When it does this it is time for the plant??™s pre-flowering stage. It can take anywhere between 1 and 5 months for the plant to hit this next stage.

Pre-flowering:

At this stage the plant slows down in developing its height and starts to produce more branches and nodes. The plant fills out in the pre-flowering stage. During this phase of the plant cycle your plant will start to show a calyx which appears where the branches meet the stem (nodes). Pre-flowering can take anywhere between 1 day to 2 weeks. (See last page of this book for pre-flowering/calyx illustration)

Flowering:

During this stage the plant continues to fill out. The plant will show its sex clearly. The male plant produces little balls that are clustered together like grapes. The female plant produces little white/cream pistils that look like hairs coming out of a pod. Each of the plants will continue to fill out more and their flowers will continue to grow. It can take anywhere between 4 to 16 weeks for the plant to fully develop its flowers (Figure 2.14). During this time the male??™s pollen sacks would have burst spreading pollen to the female flowers.

Seed:

The female plant will produce seeds at this point if she has received viable pollen from a male plant. The seeds grow within the female bud and can take anywhere between 2 weeks to 16 weeks, to grow to full maturity. The female pistils may change color before finally bursting the seedpods, sending them to the soil below. (Breeders like to collect their seeds before the seedpods burst.)

These are the six stages of the life cycle of a cannabis plant. It is important to know that if the males are separated from the females and killed off then the females will not become pollinated. Let us go back a step and describe what happens here.

cannabinoids. Photograph by Joop Jumas.

Female plants produce resin glands (Figure 1.12 and 1.14). Some of these glands may have lots of resin but are not very potent. Other plants may have little resin but are very potent. Optimal growth gives rise to a plant that has lots of resin and is very potent. Resin glands are produced all over the female flowers and new leaves. They can be seen clearly with the use of a magnifying aid. These resin glands are correctly called Trichomes.

Resin can be rubbed off the bud using the fingers and then rolled into the palms to create small balls of hand rubbed hashish. It is within these glands that one is to find the main concentration of produced cannabinoids and THC. When a plant is in full flowering the resin gland can explode or break dropping resin down onto the leaves below. This can also give the leaves their shiny frosty potent look during flowering. Towards the bottom of the plant are located the fan leaves. These leaves are generally large and collect most of the light for plant growth. Because these leaves are far away from the top of the plant, which produce the most amount of resin glands and buds, they collect the least amount of resin and are not very potent. It is best to consider separating these fan leaves from the rest of the plant after harvest because these leaves will not give you the best quality high.

CANNABIS SEEDS

First things you need to do it is a choose right cannabis seeds for growing. We recomended buy seeds at the following companies SensiSeeds, Seedsman and etc.

There you found many kind of cannabis seeds for novice and professional grower.

GERMINATION

To germinate the seeds in the correct way you will need 2 basic things: you have to keep the medium humid, and the temperature in the range of 18-27° centigrades, being the ideal temperature 24°. If you grow in soil, you can germinate the seeds directly in it: insert the seed about 0.5 cm deep, make the soil wet and cover the top of the vase with a plastic film to keep the environment nicely moist. If you grow in hydro, you can germinate directly into the rockwool after the necessary preparation. The seeds should germinate in 2-10 days. Remove the plastic cover immediately. You can also germinate the seeds into some cotton, into specific gel discs, between 2 paper napkins etc.

VEGETATION

Most of the strains require that every young plant grows for 3-4 weeks at least before it can flower. In this stage, that normally happens in april-july in outdoor the plants answer to the short nights accelerating its grow: for this reason in indoor we give 18 hours of light and 6 of dark. About the nutrients, in this stage it’s common a great need of nitrogen. When the young plant reaches 20 cm or is 1 month old, the flowering can start. A longer vegetation however will give much bigger harvests.

FLOWERING

When the nights are long enough (end of july) the plant react starting its flowering phase. In indoor we can provoke the flowering passing to 12 hours of light alternate with 12 of total dark. Since that day you can start to count the number of days that is proper of the strain that you are growing: if you read on its description flowering 8 weeks it means that approx. after 56 days they will be ready to be harvested. Female pistils will start to appear on the plant in 7-14 days. About the nutrients the plant will eat more phosphorus and potassium.

MALE AND FEMALE

The marijuana is the dried female flower (not pollinated) of the plant of cannabis: once arrived to this stage is important to distinguish male and female so you can destroy the males and finish the flowering with the females. The male at this stage develops balls, while the female shows a couple of white pistils for each calix. To clarify this, we have prepared a picture. This picture shows an example of male and female flowers, in a really early stage, within 2 days since their appereance.

HARVESTING

After 6-11 weeks, depending by the strain, it’s the moment to harvest. You can recognize the moment when the buds are fully riped looking carefully at the pistils, about 3/4 of them should be brownish. Or to be more precise, you can use a magnifier, the best moment is when the resin start to loose its transparency and become darker. Cut the plants at their base and take away all the big leaves. Now cut all the little leaves without resin around the buds. Now you can let them dry in a dry, fresh and well aerated place. hang the plants upside down, and provide a good circulation of the air around them. The plant will start to be fully dried in 5-7 day. However, it shouldn’t be used before 20 days. Most of the strains give their best after 40 days after the harvest.

As you maybe have already noticed, one line under the description of each strain is dedicated to indoor and outdoor: we would like to explain their meaning so that you can understand them correctly. You always have to keep in mind that there is no miracle recipe to grow a great marijuana and that, by the other side, a good ability to plan can help a lot in reaching outstanding results. So before you start, it is important that you know if the seeds that you want to plant are the right ones, good for your environment.

INDOOR

These seeds have been projected to grow in an artificial or semi-artificial environment that is often called grow room. In a grow room you have to reproduce all the elements necessary for the plants to grow: light, soil (or another medium), water, wind, heat, humidity. In general the indoor strains are more compact in size, and they love stable temperatures. For these reasons they can be grown outdoor only where and when the conditions are similar than in a grow room, for example a Mediterranean country in the period april-october.

OUTDOOR

These seeds can grow successfully outdoor. However, they can be grown in indoor too, but their trend will be to become bigger than indoor strains. For the best results, it’s good to germinate the seeds indoor, let them grow for a few weeks and transplant them only when the freezing nights season is finished (april-may in the northern emisphere). These strains are good for greenhouses too.