Trim and Clone Roots

Emerging promises:

The clones are now beginning to grow their own root systems. Rapidly they'll begin to spider from their stems and continue to dangle below into the cloner reservoir. Soon they'll begin to seek out nutrients. Usually if I'm not ready to add a clone to the grow area, I'll add in a very small amount of nutrients to feed them. This will happen we I see a significant color change in the leaves.

The clones itself can last up to two months in a cloner but I don't like to keep them in the cloner for that long. Below are some examples of the clone spider-like root system.

The root systems will drop straight down into the reservoir to seek out nutrients. It'll be best to pH your reservoir to near 6.0 and add roughly a quarter of the recommended nutrients you'd provide for any regular DWC grow at the most. Be careful with clones, they can be a little delicate while responding to feeding.

Make sure you are abiding to Arizona's new law regarding the maximum amount of plants per adult 21 years of age, which is six per adult. I'll be making a rough estimate and keep only three clones. Of those three I'll use to start up a new vegetation garden while my original two are flowering. When my flowering process is over and harvested, I'll transfer the two best clones into the flowering schedule and toss the third. Remember, you only need about two plants per household. You'll get your fair share of labor and an adequate harvest from the two. It'll also keep you away from dispensaries and their obnoxious prices for smokable flower.

Trim, trim, trim:

The biggest issue I'll be dealing with is trimming up my flowering plants. You'll have to trim almost weekly, making a large pile of green sail leaves to toss or use for culinary uses. Many people have sautéed their leaves with spices and oil, making a pesto or greens dish with their sail leaves. The leaves itself are filled with nearly all essential nutrients, including fats, vitamins and minerals. The leaves also contain CBD acids that carry anti-inflammatory properties.

This is four recipes that you should read if you're trimming up your garden and don't know what to do with your leafy sails but like cooking.

Here is some before and after trimming shots I got to show you how much trim can be removed from only two plants.

Before trimming

After trimming

Once the trimming is done the plants may look a little "naked" - don't worry. Plants will love the trim and bounce back with more leaves as the plant takes over it's space inside the tent. Also the plant that is taller has now emerged above the SCROG net. In a few days I'll pin it down so it'll be stressed to make more flower due to more surface area. Here are the emerging flowering buds:

Hydrate much?

Besides a culinary dish, it also acts as a great hydrating hack for any super-dry flower product. For a day or two I'll drop in a leaf into my bag of chalky flower product. The leaf will emit a large amount of water as it dries up, humidifying your bag and extending the life of product. Take out the leaf from the bag after a day and check the humidity of your flower product in the bag. Too much humidity can lead to mold growth so be careful.

Keep in mind the leaves that you trim off your plant do not contain any psychoactive THC oil that will get you the sensation of being "high". Instead they'll be just a regular leafy green product, no different than kale, mint or collard. It'll be best to use all parts of your cannabis to provide you with all the nutritional and medicinal value it possesses. Remember, before cannabis taboo, it was just another plant that carried psychoactive properties. It still is!

I hope you're enjoying the change of weather in southern Arizona. It's such a nice temperature to enjoy the great outdoors. I hope you're finding your footing with nature and the spring air. Take care.

Pinky