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A Note from the editor:
Welcome to Plant the Land; the world’s #1 online cannabis publication.
Each month you can expect stunning photography, discover unique and traditional gardening techniques, and read interviews and contributions from key individuals among the cannabis horticultural community.
You can look forward to our publication on the 1st of each month, found on http://www.PlanttheLand.com, for free, forever.
Content:
Horticultural Techniques
Plant Science Education
Interviews with key figures like Subcool, Kyle Kushman, DJ Short, Scott of Rare Dankness, Gage Green...
HD Photography
Monthly Give-A-Ways
Also Featuring: botany, breeding, & cultivation tips, & tricks.
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Interview: Gage Green Group Article: “Cannabis Medicine; at Home” –Nug’s
Strain of the Month: H.S.O.’s Master Kush
Plant photography
Humboldt Seed Organization
Gage Green Group
Sin City Seeds
Plant the Land Rainman Farms Trichome Jungle Bubbleman
GIVE A WAY
pack
Greenman Organic Seeds
This Californian classic is among the top-producing Indica-
dominant Kush breeds on the market today. Displaying large
rock-hard "crown-shaped" colas, this elite clone boasts an
extremely resinous glistening finish. With a long history that stems from an original Hindu Kush highland Indica crossed with a powerful and vigorous original Skunk phenotype, the result is a modern day icon in the cannabis industry that has been transferred through 3 generations of growers and breeders alike. Our elite version was crossed with
Emerald OG to obtain a regular form, which was then intensively selected and backcrossed for
another 4 generations.
Unmistakable because of its vast size and forest green hues, this
"queen of Indica" reflects purple, orange and red
highlights, making it quite easy on the eyes. Finishing in 9 weeks, this lady will not stretch much but is equipped with a powerful and aggressive root system that
allows for stronger feeding schedules. Not much nitrogen is
required to maintain its deep green essence, which allows
flavor to be clearly showcased in the form of dominating pepper
overtones accompanied by an earthy finish with hints of citrus that are distinct with every hit.
http://www.humboldtseeds.net
-MASTER KUSH- (feminized)
Strain of the Month
PTL: For those that are unaware, who is Gage Green and how did the Group get formed in to what it is today?
GGG: Gage Green Group is a fresh seed company that builds success with the very finest genetics found anywhere in the world. Gage is the word for describing good intentioned, holistic herb. This dedication to the most high has transformed this seed company into a beacon of healing and innovation. We take a very unique approach to our work. Our group follows a progression towards good health and positivity in everything we do.
Our seed company began officially in 2010. We started as a distribution network for genetics throughout California. Shortly afterwards, we simplified and put all of our energy into full time breeding.
This decision was based on a desire for real quality. We wished to spread total success for patients who wanted to grow from seed.
PTL: Any gage fan knows your Joseph OG is a stud and used frequently in your breeding
Featured Interview:
Plant the Land x Gage Green Group
program, what's the story behind the Jo?
GGG: Joseph was a male we discovered from a seeded plant, which goes by many names: the Underdawg/ Underdog OG, Candy Kush, Original Headband, and the New York OG. We received the cut from Loompa through a trade in 2011. She was labeled Loompa’s Headband. Our male selection, Joseph, has excelled and delivered in many fronts. Destiny brought us to the Joseph and we knew his attributes were strong with a potential to change the rules of the game.
PTL: The small circle of friends I have love the Mendo and the Stomper varieties Gage has created over the years, especially the "puff" line and the few montage crosses out there. Are there any future plans for these specimens to be re-released or “re-incarnated"?
GGG: Yes, there are many plans for these lovely plants. Stomper genetics and Mendo genetics will be hitting the scene later this year! We will be brigning back the Joseph for future “Puff” series. Our goal is that everyone can live the Gage experience in their gardens.
PTL: For a number of beneficial reasons, Gage Green only practices natural breeding techniques and promotes symbiotic gardening in general, do you believe the explosion of TLO/Probiotic gardening will make hydroponic, bottle-fed gardening a thing of the past?
GGG: There are too many people who grow with bottles and who are happy with their mineral formats to even notice the goodness organic and probiotic growing provides. The complete replacement of mineral products may take some time, but through education, everyone will soon know about the truth about holistic healing.
It is simply impossible to justify the use of unnatural substances. Soon, we will find that long-term damage associated with cannabis is only associated with unnaturally grown cannabis. Once the public becomes aware of what most commercial gardeners are putting in their plants, they may begin to care. Cannabis grown with bad methods is a huge detriment to our society.
Grape Puff
Mango Puff
Mendo Montage F2
Royal Flush
Harlequin Jo Grateful Grape LA Haze Pepe Le Chem Grape Stomper BX2 Purple Snowman Force OG MendoDawg
PTL: And finally, for all of the growers out there who eagerly wait for the next, limited line of Gage Green genetics, what can they expect from the Group in 2015?
GGG: Gage Green Group does not stop. This past winter has been a tremendous breeding period for us. We have selected some extraordinary heirloom clones which have become fully oriented into the Gage gardens. We have focused on finding incredible males which will introduce flavor, and color, into our lineup. We crossed Mendo Purps, Mendodawg, Blackberry Widow, Purple Mandala and Oaktree with our best heirlooms genetics. Many blessed purple crosses await. We will be sharing our purely healing and meditative seeds for those who love nature. Together we can manifest the infinite nature of cannabis.
Cannabis Medicine
At Home by
Nugs and Nurse Tori
-a three part series-
Part 1 of 3
Kitchen Cannabis Oil
While Cannabis Medicine steadily gains acceptance as a legitimate treatment option for some of the
World's most devastating diseases, and we collectively inch closer toward the end of prohibition, one
would assume accessibility to clean, consistent and affordable Cannabis Oil would NOT be an issue for
those choosing Cannabinoid therapy. One would also mistakenly assume with the unprecedented
number of 'legal' Cannabis dispensaries in states with working MMJ programs dispensing mountains of
domestically grown Cannabis, that organically grown, lab tested contaminant free raw material would
be simple to obtain. Even in non-legal states, with a thriving black market moving thousands of metric
tons of domestic and imported ganja, one would think finding quality material to make their own
medicine would be an easy task. Sadly for many of those burdened by debilitating disease, finding
clean raw material, or a supply of high quality uncontaminated finished oil can be like finding a needle
in a haystack.
In order for Cannabis or a Cannabis extraction to be a viable, effective medication for those with
weakened immunity, compromised liver function or any other sensitive disposition, it MUST BE FREE
OF CONTAMINANTS! Simply put, Cannabis used for making oil should be grown organically
without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or fungicides. Most importantly, the raw material
MUST be tested FREE of molds and mildew.
Homemade Cannabis oil intended for oral consumption should be extracted from the plant material
WITHOUT the use of petroleum based solvents (naphtha, isopropyl alcohol, butane etc.) in order to
avoid being contaminated with residual toxins. Organic (food grade) ethanol or 190 proof grain alcohol
(Everclear) should be used for the extraction. Both are relatively easy to obtain, inexpensive and because
they are food grade, minute amounts of residual alcohol left in the finished oil is not an issue. This can
NOT be said about most extractions made with petroleum based solvents unless crafted by skilled
professionals and lab tested to be completely free of residuals. To us, from a purely rational perspective
it is counter intuitive to pollute an uncontaminated, organic medicinal herb with a toxic petroleum solvent
and then expect it to be medicine for someone with an immune-compromised disposition. Many current
health issues are directly caused by exposure to toxic chemicals in our environment. They are in the food
we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. The very last thing we need is our medicines to be
toxic as well. Obtaining organically grown and contaminant free raw material may currently pose a
challenge in today’s Cannabis market, especially for people residing in non-legal states or those
inexperienced in dealing with the black market. Fortunately, finding the material is the most difficult part
of the entire process. To make a very high quality oil safely in the comfort of one's own kitchen is quite
simple and inexpensive. The following method is designed for a caregiver or patient with average means
to produce extremely high quality Cannabis Oil using common equipment, safely and securely in their
own home.....Power to the People!
Necessary Supplies 3 ounces high grade organic Cannabis
1250 ml organic ethanol or 190 proof Everclear (we prefer organic cane, or grape spirits)
8 inch stainless steel fine mesh strainer
6 qt. stainless steel pot
2- 1/2 gal mason jars
3- 1 qt. mason jars
3-'pour over' single cup coffee brewing cones
1- white cotton 'potato sack' dish towel cut into quarters
#4 unbleached cone coffee filters
5 x 7 in. glass pyrex dish
Rubber silicone spatula
20 cup digital rice cooker
Infrared (gun style) laser thermometer
Oven and freezer
Preparation Begin by running the DRY Cannabis buds (or resin coated trimmings) through the 8 inch stainless
screen strainer (work through with fingers), if the material is too gummy or sticky, place on a cookie
sheet and place it in the oven at 200 degrees for 10 minutes or so, (this is not decarboxylation, which
will come later) this is just enough to drive excess moisture out of the bud/trim, and make it nice and
brittle. Discard seeds and stems.
Cannabis Oil IS the resin! The more resinous
your starting material, the more potent and
concentrated your finished oil will be. We
used TGA's “Dr. Who”, one of the most resin-
heavy strains we have ever been blessed to
work with.
Place 84 grams (3 ounces) of ground Cannabis in a ½ gal. mason jar and place in the freezer. Pour
1250 ml of alcohol into the second ½ gal mason and place in freezer along side the processed herb.
We have found that 3 ounces and 1250 ml are perfect amounts for the volume of the jars we have to
work with and makes for a very efficient extraction.
It is essential for the alcohol and Cannabis to remain in the freezer for a full 24 hours! There are
certain non-essential constituents within the herb that we DO NOT want to dissolve into the alcohol
solution, notably chlorophyll, proteins, lipids (plant fats), plant waxes, and cellulose. Freezing allows
the alcohol to dissolve the plant resins first, and buys us a little time before the solvent begins to warm
and dissolve the other unwanted constituents. For the actual extraction, we want to execute the process
immediately after removing the jars from the freezer!
But first, set-up the stainless steel pot with the same 8 inch strainer (washed and dried) and two layers
(two quarters) of the cotton dishtowel material within the strainer. Make sure to wash and dry the dish
towel material prior to use.
This set-up is VERY effective in straining out not only the greenery, but a good amount of any waxes
that may have been extracted as well....
Quick Wash Extraction
We prefer to wash (extract) very quickly....the material is only in contact with the alcohol for about
about two minutes total. Pour 2/3 (about 800ml) of the ice cold alcohol into the material jar, quickly
swish around (15 seconds), let settle for 30 seconds, then use the lid to quickly strain out most the
liquid into the strainer set-up, while leaving the the bulk of the material in the jar. This should only take
about 15 seconds to drain.
Quickly add the remaining alcohol to the material jar,
swish for a few seconds, and in one quick motion,
dump everything into the strainer:
Let strain for 30 seconds.
Bring up the edges of the dishcloth, twist into a tight ball, and squeeze HARD! Try to get as much of
the solution squeezed out as possible.
Pour the solution from the pot back into the mason that had the clean alcohol in it and place it back into
the freezer for at least 12 hours, 24 preferably.
We have begun the Winterization phase where the waxes, proteins, and non-soluable fats that were
extracted will congeal, freeze and precipitate out of the solution and settle to the bottom of the mason
jar. This is a very important step, a prerequisite to initial filtering if you will.
Please Note: Extraction times will be slightly longer for CBD rich material (please see “Relevant notes
and Considerations”)
Initial Filtering
Filtering the solution is critical. We want to remove any waxes, lipids or proteins that were extracted
into the solution. If not removed, these substances will scorch when the near finished oil is subjected to
high oven temperatures needed for full decarboxylation. (More on this later).
Three 1qt. mason jars equipped with single cup coffee
brewing cones fitted with #4 unbleached coffee (cone)
filters works very well for this volume of solution.
Set up your filter station as shown.
Gently remove the solution from the freezer not to disturb the sediment and immediately begin pouring
SLOWLY and GENTLY (to keep the sediment as undisturbed as possible) and fill the first two cones to
the top, then pour the remaining liquid and sediment into the third filter (this should fill it about half
way). Try to decant the jar in one fluid motion, avoiding tipping the jar back up before all the solution is
emptied. The first two filters will be filled with relatively clean liquid, and will run through the filters in
about 10-15 minutes....the third will have the bulk of the sediment in it, and will run through the filter
quite a bit slower, but because it is only about half way full, it will all finish up around the same time as
the first two cones. Allow approx. 30 minutes for the solution to drain through the filters.
When the filters are empty, combine all three quart jars back into one clean ½ gallon mason, and place
back into the freezer for 12 hours to prepare for the finish filtering. The solution will be quite clear at
this point as most of the sediment will have been removed.
Finish Filtering
Stack three or four #4 coffee filters in a brewing cone and place atop a clean ½ gal. mason. After the
12 hours, remove the solution from the freezer and pour through filters. The solution is pretty clean
after the initial filtering, so it will run through the stacked filters rather quickly. The process should
take only about 3-5 minutes.
The solution should be a beautiful clear amber color. The alcohol is now ready to be boiled off in the
rice cooker.
Set the cooker on "steam" for the max time, 29 min., and add ALL the solution. With the lid open, it
should reach a full boil in about 5 minutes. It is VERY important to boil-off outside, or in a open screen
porch or garage with the doors open. While alcohol is not nearly as explosive as butane or other
petroleum solvents, we still want to provide for sufficient ventilation and obviously NO sparks or open
flames anywhere in the vicinity throughout the process. We prefer our screen porch with all the windows
open.
Boiling Off the Alcohol
Time to boil the alcohol off the resin. We
prefer this particular digital rice cooker. It
gas a 20 cup capacity, and has a safety
shut-off feature that just happens to be
perfect for oil making, turning off at just
the right temp/time.
Allow the solution to boil vigorously with the lid wide open. Avoid breathing the vapor, or any contact with the
eyes. Never leave the cooker unattended! It will only take 15-25 minutes to boil down, so always keep a close eye on it.
Please note: As the level of solution drops, and the bubbles change and get bigger, everything will happen quite fast!
Pay close attention!
Have an oven mitt on one hand, and the rubber spatula on the other and watch closely as it gets close to the point of
pulling off the heat. You will see the bottom of the pot, and the bubbles will begin to get bigger and last longer. The oil
will quickly begin to look like a thin bubbly syrup. Use a silicone spatula to swish it around to prevent any scorching.
Again, pay very close attention, the vapor will stop and will change to a slight smoke (very, very slight)...THIS is the exact
moment to pull it off h will look like this:
Move the oil with the spatula into the 5 x 7 Pyrex dish immediately after pulling it from the cooker.
Transferring oil between vessels is effortless when it is hot, and all of it can easily be removed from the
cooker with just a few strokes.
Decarboxylation and Oven Purging
It is now time to fully decarboxylate (activate) and purge the remaining alcohol from the oil. Place the
pyrex dish into the oven set at 260 degrees F and allow 10 minutes or so for the oil to reach 260 degrees.
Crack open the door and use a gun-style laser thermometer to check the rising temp. Once
the surface of the oil reaches 260 degrees. begin timing. Use the laser thermometer to check and adjust
the temp every 3-5 minutes to keep the surface temperature as close to 260 as possible. You may have to
crack the door of the oven to lower the temp, or close it to raise it. We want 260 degrees F. for 15 full
minutes with this volume to achieve full conversion of THC. The oil will bubble and purge, and then
become flat and calm after the 15 min.
Simply by observing the surface, one can clearly see this batch needs just a few more minutes.
After the allotted time, remove the pyrex from the oven, and (while still hot) use the spatula to transfer
the finished oil into a seal-able glass vessel (the oil may be weighed at this time) and store at room
temperature away from excessive heat or direct light. Congratulations! You have made yourself some
very high quality, extremely potent, contaminate-free Cannabis Oil! Truly proper medication!
Relevant Notes and Considerations
CBD Oil
Above is the extraction timing and decarboxylation temps/timing for THC dominant oil. For a CBD
dominant extraction, we let the material sit on the alcohol in the extraction jar for twice as
long....perhaps up to 4 minutes total, but that is it. Any longer than that, and you will be pulling a lot of
chlorophyll, and plant waxes out of the material as it thaws out of the freezer. Our test numbers
confirm that a relatively fast/frozen wash on CBD is sufficient as well. We average 70-75% total (700-
750mg/g) CBD in finished oil with a quick wash. We have recently broke the 20% mark for return
(weight of starting material divided by weight of finished oil) with a CBD strain named La Pina, so we
are quite happy with the actual CBD extraction weight with this method.
When converting (decarboxylating) a CBD extraction of this volume, the oven temperature and time
are a little higher and longer. We have found 300 degrees F. for 25-30 minutes is sufficient to fully
convert CBD. As a matter of fact, recent samples using the above method have been receiving rave
reviews from laboratories for total CBD by volume, and total activation percentage. Our good friend
Oriah, who uses this method shares his feedback from OG Analytical in Oregon.
"What a beautiful product! (High CBD Pennywise Oil) Both the THC and the CBD are FULLY
decarboxylated. We don't see that too often. Great job!!" -Bethany Sherman: Executive Director; Oregon
Growers Analytical.
Color IS important
Properly made Cannabis oil should be a light amber brown color. In many cases, the lighter the better.
Raw material grown indoors will often produce a lighter oil than it's Sun grown counterpart. Here is a
beautiful light colored batch made from material grown indoors.
Dark brown, green or black oils generally have a high amount of plant material in them (waxes,
chlorophyll, lipids, proteins, and contaminants) that easy scorch at decarboxlation temperatures and are
subject to spoiling and molding during long-term storage. Some of the dark hues are directly caused by
volatile organic compounds that have oxidized. We have discovered that many people are sensitive to
these compounds as they can cause gastrointestinal discomfort upon ingestion. The medicinal
properties of Cannabis are primarily contained within the oil-soluble resin glands, and this method
focuses on the extraction of such resin.
As you can see, with some very common household supplies, the process of making high grade
Cannabis oil is quite simple. Sourcing quality organic raw material poses the biggest challenge. But
with the proper know-how, just about anyone can make their own medicine, and get on the path to
healing....naturally.
Stay tuned for our next installment of this three part series on Homemade Cannabis Medicine. Part #2 we will
cover Cannabis infused coconut oil using a pressure cooker! In part #3, we will wrap up the series with fully
customizable capsules, blending the two preparations to create individualized doses!
To Your Health!
Nugs and Nurse Tori
This is a custom cannabis/botany glossary to help you understand commonly used terms among growers and breeders. This will be updated frequently. Please send any correction suggestions to
A.C. Hood / “Air cooled hood” Air is pushed or pulled through an enclosed reflector around a high intensity bulb to remove the heat generated by the bulb.
Active hydroponics systems: use a pump to supply the solution to the various cannabis plants on timed intervals. The solution is typically re-circulated throughout the system and the plants, which is the biggest difference between the management of the two systems. Flood and drain/Ebb n Flow, Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) are examples of active hydroponics systems.
Allele: is one of a number of alternative forms of the same gene or same genetic locus.
Angiosperms: are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by characteristics including flowers, endosperm within the seeds, and the production of fruits that contain the seeds. Angiosperm means a plant that produces seeds within an enclosure. (Cannabis, Hibiscus, Roses, Lavender, Tulips, etc.. are all flowering plants, and classified angiosperms.)
Annual: a plant that completes its life cycle and dies within one year.
Anther: pollen-bearing part of the stamen.
Apex: the tip; the point furthest from the point of attachment.
Asexual reproduction: reproduction that does not involve the gametes; i.e. vegetative reproduction (cloning).
Aeroponics - is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium (known as geoponics). The word "aeroponic" is derived from the Greek meanings of Aero- (air) and ponos (labour). Aeroponic culture differs from conventional hydroponics, aquaponics, and in-vitro (plant tissue culture) growing. Unlike hydroponics, which uses a liquid nutrient solution as a growing medium and essential minerals to sustain plant growth, aeroponics is conducted without a growing medium.
Blade: the lamina or flattened part of a leaf, excluding the stalk.
BHO - Butane Honey Oil. A method of extracting the trichomes from plant matter. Butane gas strips the trichomes from the plant matter, and collects on a dish. The butane is evaporated away, leaving a very high potency oil.
BX/Backcross: a crossing of a hybrid with one of its parents or an individual genetically similar to its parent, in order to achieve offspring with a genetic identity which is closer to that of the parent. Backcrossed hybrids are sometimes described with acronym "BX", for example, an F1 hybrid crossed with one of its parents (or a genetically similar individual) can be termed a BX1 hybrid, and a further cross of the BX1 hybrid to the same parent (or a genetically similar individual) produces a BX2 hybrid. (P1 x P2 = F1) (F1 x F1= F2) (F2 x P1 = BX1) (BX1 x P1= BX2)
Calyx - The round outer portion of the plants bud.
Canopy: in cannabis gardening, the canopy is usually defined as the top portion/area of your cannabis garden.
Capitate: with knob-like head; of an inflorescence, with the flowers unstalked and aggregated into a dense cluster; of a stigma, like the head of a pin.
Carbon filter - A method of deodorizing air coming from or inside a growroom, by passing the air through a layer of activated carbon that absorbs and eliminates odors.
Carpel: is a female reproductive structure of a plant consisting of the Stigma, Style, & Ovary.
CFL/Compact Fluorescent Light - A fluorescent light about the size of a standard incandescent light bulb that can be used in any standard light socket. Used most often for starting seeds, clones, and in micro grow applications. Note that the wattage to go by is the actual wattage, not the equivalent wattage ie, a 42 watt CFL that says equivalent to 150 watt incandescent would be counted as 42 watts, not 150.
Chelates: The word chelate is derived from the Greek word for “claw”. In fertilizer technology, it refers to inorganic nutrients that are enclosed by an organic molecule.
CHELATION in soil increases nutrient availability to plants. Organic substances in the soil either applied or produced by plants or microorganisms are the natural chelating agents. The most important substances having this nature are Hydroxamate Siderophores, Organic Acids and Amino Acids.
Chlorophyll: a green pigment in chloroplasts, essential for photosynthesis.
CO2/Carbon Dioxide: is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of 2 oxygen atoms each covalently double bonded to a single carbon atom. Plants take in CO through pores, called stomata, in their leaves during daylight hours. They give off oxygen at the same time, the results of a process called photosynthesis. When supplemented with CO2, photosynthesis is increased and therefore, the plants growth rate increases as long as all other limiting factors have been met.
Coco/coir: similar to soilless, utilizing the inside layer and hairy bark of coconuts as the growing medium.
Cool tube - Air is drawn through a glass tube that surrounds a high intensity bulb to remove the heat generated by the bulb.
Cotyledons: primary leaf or leaves of an embryo, also known as seed leaves.
Curing- preparing the buds for long term storage by allowing them to “age” in an area that equalizes the moisture in the bud.
Cutting/Clone: a branch or shoot of a plant that has been removed and rooted independently, producing a new plant with the exact physical characteristics of the original plant (aka the mother).
Dicots/Dicotyledons: a flowering plant whose embryo has two (or rarely more) cotyledons or “seed leaves.”
Dioecious: species that have the male and female reproductive structures on separate plants. Cannabis is primarily dioecious, meaning unless the plant is hermaphroditic; the plant will be either entirely male or female.
Diploid: with two full sets of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell; having two complements of haploid chromosomes, that are the two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each of the parental gamete. This is expressed symbolically as 2n, where n = the gamete number of chromosomes.
Dominance: in genetics is a relationship between alleles of one gene, in which one allele is expressed over a second allele at the same locus. The first allele is dominant and the second allele is recessive. In genetics, when one allele is dominant to another, the oldest convention is to symbolize the dominant allele with a capital letter. The recessive allele is assigned the same letter in lower case. (Rr)
In complete dominance, the effect of one allele in a heterozygous genotype completely masks the effect of the other. The allele that masks the other is said to be dominant to the latter, and the allele that is masked is said to be recessive to the former.
Deep Water Culture: A style of hydroponic growing that utilizes a deep reservoir of nutrient aerated by an airstone. Generally the reservoir is a five gallon bucket. The plant rests in a netted pot, filled with hydroton or another inert media. The roots grow through the netted pot into the nutrients below, allowing for very large root systems. RDWC connects the buckets in a continuous system with a pump and an additional reservoir, known as a recirculating DWC.
Ebb and Flow. A hydroponic style of gardening that utilizes tables a shallow pan or table for the plants and medium, and a separate reservoir of nutrient solution. Using a pump connected to a timer, the nutrient solution is pumped into the table until it fills, and then allowed to drain. The "flood" of nutrients soaks the roots and wicks in to the medium, then 'ebbs' back into the reservoir, allowing the roots a chance to dry out and breathe.
E.C./Electrical Conductivity : the measurement of the amount of nutrients in a solution. (May be expressed in multiple values (PPM, TDS, EC - consult your meters manual)
Embryo: a young plant contained by a seed.
Endosperm: a nutritive tissue in a seed.
F1, F2, F3 Generations: the “F” in this term refers to which filial generation the offspring resulted from crossing two different parents.
P1 x P2 = F1
F1 x F1 = F2
F2 x F2 = F3
F3 x F3 = F4
F4 x P1 = BX1
Family: a formal group of one or more genera with features and/or ancestry in common; the term for the principal rank between order and genus.
Feminized Seeds: are seeds that have been created through various methods (usually STS or over-flowering) without the use of (actual) male pollen. A female is sprayed with the STS, shortly afterwards, the female will usually put out pollen which is collected and re-applied to another female to create the first generation of feminized seeds. This results in seeds without male DNA. (XXxXX vs XXxXY) When these seeds are flowered, they should be all female plants. However, feminized seeds are generally seen as more prone to become hermaphrodites because the process used to feminize the line surfaces a hermaphroditic gene.
Fertilizer: is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soils or to plant tissues (usually leaves) to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants.
Fertilization: a term representing the union of male and female gametes.
FIM Technique: stands for 'fuck I missed'. FIM refers to the attempt to cut the growth shoot of a plant so that it grows into multiple branches instead of one. The phrase comes from how easy it is to miss the tiny growth shoot.
Filament: the stalk of a stamen
Flushing - the process of removing nutrients from your plants. In soil this is achieved by running plain water through the soil (usually double your soil volume). In hydro, it is achieved by removing the nutrient solution and replacing it with plain water.
Foliar Feeding: an application of a nutrient solution to the leaves and above ground portions of the plant, as opposed to the roots. Foliar feeding should not be done while the plant is exposed to high intensity light, as the drops can act as magnifying glasses and burn the leaves.
Genus: a group of one or more species with features or ancestry (or both) in common. Genus is the principal category of taxa intermediate in rank between family and species in the nomenclatural hierarchy.
Gamete: a cell or nucleus that fuses with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction.
Gene pool: the range of genetic variation found in a population.
Genotype: the genotype of a cannabis plant (any organism) is the inherited map it carries within its genetic code. Not all cannabis plants with the same genotype look or act the same way because appearance and behavior are modified by environmental and developmental conditions. Likewise, not all cannabis plants that look alike necessarily have the same genotype.
Germination: of seeds, describes the complex sequence of physiological and structural changes that occur from resting to growth stage. Germination occurs when the “sleeping” seed encounters moisture, which consequently starts the growth process.
GPH/Gallons per hour: the rating of a pumps capacity to move water. Check the pump information carefully, as the GPH falls as your distance from the pump increases.
Gymnosperm: a seed-bearing plant with ovules born on the surface of a sporophyll; includes, among others, conifers, Ginkgo, Gnetum and cycads. Gymnosperm translates to “naked seed.” (Conifers, Ferns, etc.. do not produce flowers, produce naked seeds, and are classified as gymnosperms.)
Hand pollination: the controlled act of pollination. I.e. -Using a Q-tip or a paint brush to apply male pollen to a female’s flowers instead of Open-Air-Pollination.
Herbaceous: not woody; usually green, and soft in texture.
Hermaphrodite: the word is used in botany to describe a flower that has both staminate (male, pollen-producing) and carpellate (female, ovule-producing) parts. Cannabis is primarily a dioecious plant, bearing either male or female reproductive organs only, unless the plant hermaphrodites, which consequently produces both male and female organs on the same plant.
Heterozygous: if the two alleles are different, the organism is a heterozygote and is heterozygous
Homozygous: if two alleles of a given gene are identical, the organism is called a homozygote and is said to be homozygous with respect to that gene.
Host: in botany, a host plant is one that supplies food resources and substrate for certain insects.
HPS/High Pressure Sodium. A type of high intensity lamp used for growing plants indoors. The lamps give off an orange light, often thought to simulate late summer and fall sun. Generally used for flowering plants, but can be used during vegetative growth as well.
Hybrid: a plant produced by the crossing of parents belonging to two different named groups, e.g. genera, species, varieties, subspecies, forma and so on; i.e. the progeny resulting within and between two different plants. An F1 hybrid is the primary product of such a cross. An F2 hybrid is a plant arising from a cross between two F1 hybrids (or from the self-pollination of an F1 hybrid).
Hybrid Vigor/Heterosis: is the improved or increased function of any biological quality in a hybrid offspring.
An offspring exhibits heterosis if its traits are enhanced as a result of mixing the genetic contributions of its parents. These effects can be due to Mendelian or non-Mendelian inheritance.
Hydroponics: a method of growing that does not rely on a nutritional substrate such as soil. All the nutrition that a plant would normally obtain from the soil is mixed into water in certain concentrations to allow for maximum growth. The plant gets all of the nutrients it needs to grow from the water solution.
Inbreeding: the production of offspring between closely related parents leading to a high degree of similarity; self-fertilization is the most intense form of inbreeding.
IBL/Inbred Line : a genetic line that has been stabilized through inbreeding to consistently produce plants with uniform traits. (Parents -Female x Male) P1 x P2 = (Progeny) F1…..F1 (female) x F1 (male) = F2….F2 x F2 = F3. F4 x F4 = F5 etc..
Indica - A type of cannabis that is usually associated with shorter, squatter plants with shorter flowering periods. Indicas are usually associated with a narcotic body stone.
Indigenous: native to the area, not introduced.
Inert: to be inert is to be in a state of doing little or nothing.
Inflorescence: several flowers closely grouped together to form an efficient structured unit; the grouping or arrangement of flowers on a plant.
Internode: the portion of a stem between two nodes.
ISO - Isopropyl alcohol. Used to extract trichomes from plant matter. The Isopopyl alcohol strips the trichomes from the plant matter, and is then evaporated away, leaving a high potency oil.
Kingdom: the highest generally employed category of the taxonomic hierarchy, above that of division (phylum).
Leaf: an outgrowth of a stem, usually flat and green; its main function is food manufacture by photosynthesis
Landrace - A genetic line of plants that occurs naturally within a given region, without human influence on their characteristics.
L.E.D./Light emitting diode: is a two-lead semiconductor light source. It is a basic pn-junction diode, which emits light when activated. When a suitable voltage is applied to the leads, electrons are able to recombine with electron holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electroluminescence, and the color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photon) is determined by the energy band gap of the semiconductor.
LST/Low Stress Training - A method of growing that slowly trains the plant to a specific height or shape. The training usually starts young by tying down the branches and growth shoots.
Lumens: is the SI derived unit of luminous flux, a measure of the total "amount" of visible light emitted by a source.
Lux: is the SI unit of illuminance and luminous emittance, measuring luminous flux per unit area. It is equal to one lumen per square meter.
Mendelian genetics: is inheritance of biological features that follows the laws proposed by Gregor Johann Mendel in 1865 and 1866 and re-discovered in 1900.
Mendel's Laws of Inheritance
Law of Segregation: During gamete formation, the alleles for each gene segregate from each other so that each gamete carries only one allele for each gene.
Law of Independent Assortment: Genes for different traits can segregate independently during the formation of gametes.
Law of Dominance: Some alleles are dominant while others are recessive; an organism with at least one dominant allele will display the effect of the dominant allele.
Limiting Factors: In no particular order, Lights, Water and O2, Nutrients, Temperature, Humidity, & CO2 are considered to be the limiting factors that determine a plants growth rate. If one or more of these limiting factors are imperfect, it will ultimately diminish the plants full potential.
Meristem: an actively dividing tissue. (Apital meristem: growth tip)
MH/Metal Halide: a type of high intensity lamp used for growing indoors. The lamps give off a whitish blue light, assumed to simulate the spring and early summer sun. Generally used for vegetating plants, but can be used during flowering as well.
Medium/Media: a collection of organic/inorganic materials which provides a suitable home for a seedling or cutting to grow in. (hydroton, coco, pro-mix, peat, etc… are examples of media.)
Monocots/Monocotyledon: a flowering plant whose embryo has one cotyledon or seed leaf.
Monoecious: where the male and female reproductive structures are in separate flowers but on the same plant.
Mutation: an abrupt and inexplicable variation from the norm, such as the “doubling up” in flowers, changes in color, or habit of growth.
Mycorrhizae: are beneficial fungi that penetrate the roots of most plants in nature. This symbiotic relationship is beneficial in that the plant provides sugars to the fungi, and the fungi enhance nutrient uptake for the plant. There are two major groups of mycorrhizae: ectomycorrhyzae and endomychorrhizae. The 'ectos' do not actually penetrate the cells of the roots, but are found between the intercellular spaces. Ectos have been found to be able to utilize a range of organic compounds such as proteins, peptides and amino acids. However, these fungi are restricted to coniferous tree species (gymnosperms) and Ericacious (heath/ bog) species where soil breakdown of amino acids is minimal.
Neem oil: a broad spectrum botanical insecticide, miticide, and fungicide treatment derived from the seeds of the neem tree.
NFT /Nutrient Film Technique: a hydroponic method growing that allows a thin trickle or 'film' of nutrient solution to constantly pass of the roots to provide nourishment, but not so much that the roots cannot breathe.
Node: the location on a plant where branches and new growth are produced.
NPK: expresses the amounts of (N)nitrogen, (P)phosphorus, and (K) potassium in the fertilizer/soil.
Nutrient overdose/deficiency: plants can be prone to nutrient toxicities/deficiencies if you’re measurements aren’t ideal based on the plants age. Assumingly so, young cannabis plants, depending on the variety, desire a lighter feed than middle-aged to older plants. All plants require a specific range of macro nutrients, secondary nutrients, and trace-elements to sustain optimal growth.
Order: a group of one or more families sharing common features, ancestry, or both.
Organic Nutrients: are developed from naturally occurring substances.
Ovary: the basal portion of a carpel or group of fused carpels, enclosing the ovule(s).
Ovule: a structure in a seed plant within which one or more megaspores are formed, after fertilization it develops into a seed.
P1: the “P1” term describes the parents, usually of two different varieties used in breeding programs to create a new hybrid, the
offspring will now be labeled as F1’s.
pH – Acidic/Alkaloid level of a nutrient solution or soil. 0-6 (Acidic) 7 (Neutral) 8-14 (Basic).
Parasite: an organism living on or in a different organism, from which it derives nourishment.
Parasitism: is a non-mutual symbiotic relationship between species, where one species, the parasite, benefits at the expense of
the other, the host.
Passive hydroponics systems: is a method of growing plants without soil, peat moss, or bark. Instead an inert porous medium
transports water and fertilizer to the roots by capillary action. Water and fertilizer are held in a reservoir and conducted to the
roots as necessary, reducing labor and providing a constant supply of water to the roots. In the simplest method, the pot sits in a
shallow solution of fertilizer and water or on a capillary mat saturated with nutrient solution. “Pot culture” is passive
hydroponics at its simplest.
Pheno/phenotype - Certain unique characteristics of a plant that set it aside from other plants of the same genes. Plants grown
from the same seed stock often show unique characteristics like smell, coloring, and flavor.
Perennial: a plant whose life span extends over several years.
Perlite: an amendment often added to peat, coco, & other various soil mixes to add aeration and water retention to the medium
without affecting the pH or E.C.
Petal: in a flower, one of the segments or divisions of the inner whorl of non-fertile parts surrounding the fertile organs, usually
soft and conspicuously colored.
Petiole: the stalk of a leaf.
Photosynthesis: the process by which sugars are made from carbon dioxide and water in cells containing chloroplasts; the chemical energy required from solar energy in the presence of the pigment chlorophyll.
Pistil: -a single carpel when the carpels are free.
-a group of carpels when the carpels are united by the fusion of their walls.
Pollen: a powdery mass shed from anthers (of angiosperms) or microsporangia (of gymnosperms); the microspores of seed plants.
Pollination: the transfer of pollen from the male organ (anther) to the receptive region of a female organ (stigma).
P.M./Powdery Mildew: a fungus that attacks plants identifiable as a powdery film on the surface.
PPM Parts Per Million - Measurement of the amount of nutrients in a solution. (May be expressed in multiple values (PPM, TDS, EC - consult your meters manual)
Radicle: the part of an embryo giving rise to the root system of a plant.
Rhizome: a perennial underground stem usually growing horizontally.
Rhizosphere: is the narrow region of soil that is directly influenced by root secretions and associated soil microorganisms
Root: a unit of a plant's axial system which is usually underground, does not bear leaves, tends to grow downwards, and is typically derived from the radicle of the embryo.
Root hairs: outgrowths of the outermost layer of cells just behind the root tips, functioning as water-absorbing organs.
Revegging: returning a plant to a vegetative state after it has begun flowering. Normally used in reference to a plant that has completed its flowering cycle and been harvested, but can also refer to a clone that was taken from a flowering mother. Generally, revegging is used to preserve genetics after harvest.
R/O or RO water - Water that has been filtered of impurities by the Reverse Osmosis method.
RW rockwool - A growing medium that comes in cubes or slabs, easily identifiable by its green color.
Sativa - A type of cannabis that is usually associated with taller plants and longer flowering periods. Sativas are usually associated with an up, energetic head high.
Scale: a reduced or rudimentary leaf, for example a leaf or group of reduced/rudimentary leaves around a bud.
ScrOG - Screen of green. A method that utilizes fewer plants trained to grow along a screen to insure all budsites get equal light. Normally grown plants will generally develop one or two main colas at the top of the plant, smaller buds on the sides, and 'popcorn*', or very small buds on the bottom.
Scrubber aka carbon scrubber Used to control odor, carbon is packed in a porous layer between around a central core. Air is either drawn or pushed through the carbon. The micron sized pores in the carbon, combined with a slight charge, trap odor molecules, bacteria, and other particles inside the carbon. the air is literally scrubbed clean by being forced through the carbon.
Seed: a ripened ovule, consisting of a protective coat enclosing an embryo and food reserves; a propagating organ formed in the sexual reproductive cycle of gymnosperms and angiosperms
Selective (plant) breeding: or artificial selection is the process by which humans begin to breed plants for particular traits.
Self-pollination: also called selfing, is the acceptance by stigmas of pollen from the same flower or from flowers on the same plant, which means they are self-compatible. (S1)
Shoot: is usually the aerial part of a plant; a stem including its dependent parts, leaves, & flowers etc.
Slab - one meter of grow medium, usually referencing rock-wool or coco coir.
SoG - Sea of Green. A method of growing that uses several small plants as compared to fewer large ones. The plants are kept small, and encouraged to grow only one main cola. This allows more plants to be grown in the same area. The phrase comes from the impression you get from looking at a garden grown this way, ie just a sea of green buds. Also known as the plantlet method.
Soilless - A Hydroponic method that utilizes pots like a standard soil garden, which can be handwatered or utilize a standard soil
irrigation system. The pots are filled with inert medium, usually a mixture of perlite and vermiculite that retains water much like
soil. However, all nutrients come in the hydroponic solution, there are none stored in the medium, as in soil.
Species: a group, or populations of individuals, sharing common features and/or ancestry, generally the smallest group that can be readily and consistently recognized; often, a group of individuals capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. The species category is the basic unit of classification, the category of taxa of the lowest principal rank in the nomenclatural hierarchy.
Spider mites - Spider mites are members of the Acari (mite) family Tetranychidae, which includes about 1,200 species. They generally live on the undersides of leaves of plants, where they may spin protective silk webs, and they can cause damage by puncturing the plant cells to feed. Spider mites are known to feed on several hundred species of plants, and cannabis is no exception. They’re one of the most feared infestations among cannabis gardeners.
Stabilization: is a type of natural/artificial selection in which genetic diversity decreases and the population average stabilizes on a particular, uniform trait value.
Stamen: the male organ of a flower, consisting (usually) of a stalk (filament) and a pollen-bearing portion (anther).
Stoma/stomata: a pore; a small hole in the surface of a leaf (or other aerial organ) allowing the exchange of gases between tissues and the atmosphere. A significant role of the stomata is for respiration and transpiration. The collection of CO2, the release of excess water vapor, and other gases.
Style: an elongated part of a carpel, or group of fused carpels, between the ovary and the stigma.
Super-cropping A method of growing where the stem hurd is lightly crushed, forcing the plant to make new pathways that can result in a higher yield.
Taproot: the main, descending root of a plant with a single dominant root axis.
Terpenes: are a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants, though also by some insects.They are often strong-smelling. They may protect the plants that produce them by deterring herbivores and by attracting predators and parasites of herbivores. Many terpenes are aromatic hydrocarbons and thus may have had a protective function. The difference between terpenes and terpenoids is that terpenes are hydrocarbons, whereas terpenoids contain additional functional groups. They are the major components of resin, and of turpentine produced from resin. The name "terpene" is derived from the word "turpentine".
True breeding: in cannais horticulture, is a line of cannabis genetics that always passes down a certain phenotypic trait to its offspring. A variety is referred to as true breeding for each trait to which this applies, and the term "true breeding" is also used to describe individual genetic traits. In Mendelian genetics, this means that an organism must be homozygous for every trait for which it is considered true breeding.
TDS Total Dissolved Solids - Measurement of the amount of nutrients in a solution. (May be expressed in multiple values (PPM, TDS, EC - consult your meters manual)
Topping: Pruning the plant by cutting off the top to encourage lateral branching.
Trichome - a structure on the skin of plant that contains the THC and other desirable cannabinoids found in cannabis, like
terpenoids and flavonoids.
Vermiculite: an organic amendment that creates air channels and allows the soil mix to breathe. Mixing vermiculite in flower
and vegetable gardens or in potted plants will provide the necessary air to maintain vigorous plant growth. Where soils are
sandy, mixing of vermiculite into the soil will allow the soil to hold water and air needed for growth.
Zygote: a fertilized cell.
