Is it the strain...or is it me?

**Trader** · 03-08-2008, 05:52 PM

For some time now I have grown some very decent plants, but for the life of me, now matter what strains I've started...about 5 or 6...and no matter where I got the seeds...Europe, Canada, locally...I never seem to get that "picture perfect killer-effect bud" like you see in the mags.

I've had Northern Lights, Chronic (and subsets), Amsterdam BGum, and a host of others...but never that, "OMG" looking bud.
The plants put on great leaves, good color, growth/height, buds of all shapes and sizes (little colas, big colas).

They grow indoors, CO2 enhanced, big lights, great soils & nutes...just about anything that you could ask for...but never that "glistening, colorized, cola from heaven" looking bud.

Is this more an issue of strains...or do I need to look at something in my growing plans?

TKS

**Naturalhi** · 03-08-2008, 06:45 PM

Details and pics would help us help you!

There must be some difference between then and now!

Temps? PH? nutes? soil? New lights? etc.?>)

**Working:Class:Hero** · 03-08-2008, 08:21 PM

theyre airbrushed, just like the women in magazines mate.

**Trader** · 03-09-2008, 01:51 AM

Ha...airbrushed???.... I love it. Capitalism comes in all forms.

I'm not sure pics would help...but tomorrow I might try to take a few. Right now they're not ready anyway...but I just don't seem to get to that, 'multi-colored, glistening, trichomes-all-over look like the mags. And when I've waited a bit longer...thinking something would happen, I just get yellow/darker pistils and the leaves crackle.

We'll see....

**Naturalhi** · 03-09-2008, 04:48 PM

Well in my own experience in the grow room, the first pistils do turn and the older sun leaves dryout ( at which point I trim the leaf) and then a couple days later new pistils appear from under the old, and the bud starts putting on bulk, this goes on for about another week or so, until something like this happens.......This one got so big, I had to tye it up to keep it in the light=>D

**Trader** · 03-09-2008, 06:27 PM

Okay, here's some pics if I can figure out the upload. It's hard to get good close-ups since the HPS lights confuse the camera. None of these would I say are ready. There's some chronic & menage a 'trois (something as a bonus to an order), and a clone from earlier efforts.
Note that even though the pistils are mostly white, the leaves are yellowing and cracking. I'm trying to figure out if I might be harvesting early based on what the leaves are doing...vs...the pistils getting mostly yellow.

I never seem to get that "humongus amount of trichomes" making the leaves look like glistening crystal...although I note that if you take the plant out from under the HPS you can see the trichomes better.

Let me know...all opinions welcome.

Peace & TKS...

**Trader** · 03-09-2008, 06:28 PM

I'm posting some more pics as soon as I figure out how to reduce the file size.

**Trader** · 03-09-2008, 06:39 PM

More pics....someday I'll figure out how others post pics this way...and they're FULL sized...but when I do it...they're thumbnails. Hmmmm??

**Trader** · 03-09-2008, 06:52 PM

Okay...all done for now. You can see a variety of leaf characteristics. The room has plenty of space, dual 1000 HPS on light-movers with inline fans, humidity roughly 45 to 65%, propane CO2 injection, fresh air injection. Nite temps (lights off) in mid/low 60s, running temps in high 70s/low 80s.
Soil is top-notch planting soil: Light & airy in approx. 3gal buckets. Nutes are Foxfarm & Liquid Karma.

Let me know what you think...

**fishheadbob** · 03-09-2008, 07:13 PM

Can't say as I can put a handle on your leaves browning and cracking like they are; it's a problem I haven't seen. Possibly something simple like the top of your plant being too close to the light and burning a bit? But the buds don't show any problems, so that most likely ain't it. Maybe water a little bit more frequently, but just a little?
If I were you I'd leave things alone, those buds are primo.