CANNABIS HORTICULTURE I

Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture

UNIT 1 DISCUSSION

(question 1)

Plant growth and nutrient distribution is widely affected by the environment in which said plant is grown. The same is true of all plants including cannabis and hemp. Most problems that arise in the growth of cannabis and other plants are caused by changes in the environment. There are several environmental factors that impact the growth and development of plants, the most important of which include light, temperature, water, humidity, and nutrition. It is extremely important to understand how manipulating these environmental factors can affect the development of your plant, as well as allowing you to diagnose problems caused by environmental stressors.

One of the most important environmental factors to consider when cultivating cannabis is lighting. Outdoors your light is pretty much taken care of but simply using a fluorescent bulb indoors will not provide your plants with the necessities. When speaking about light there are 3 variables you must consider, quantity, quality, and duration. Indoors it is much harder to produce the amount of high intensity light required to all branches and terminal shoots that is provided by the sun. The use of HPS and Metal Halide bulbs can produce a quality spectrum that your plants can utilize more effectively. The spectrum of light is also important, with plants requiring more red spectrum during the flowering cycle. The duration of light used is also of huge importance as cannabis is a photosensitive species. Cannabis will stay in the vegative cycle, producing new terminal shoots and showing lateral growth, for as long as the duration of light provided remains anywhere from 18-24 hours per day. Once the duration of light drops to 12 hours on and 12 hours off, the plant will begin its flowering cycle and produce resinous flowers.

Temperature is also another important environmental factor you must pay close attention to when growing cannabis. Temperature plays a key role in photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration. The overall temperature required for vegative growth is relatively higher than during flowering, at anywhere from 75-80 degrees. Vegative growth can be stunted or even stopped all together after the temperature gets above 90. The cannabis plant is much more sensitive to many environmental stressors during the flowering cycle, and temperature is much more important during this stage in development. During the flowering cycle the temperature needs to be cooler at around 65-80 degrees. The use of air conditioners and ventilation systems are used to assist in temperature control. Temperature can affect the time it takes for flowers to mature as well as cannabinoid production, so overall temperature is also an extremely important factor you need to tend to.

Water is also another factor that must be checked and managed regularly. Water is a primary component in photosynthesis and respiration. Depending on the medium used, sometimes it's much more important to understand the factors involved. When growing hydroponically, the PH of the water must be paid very close attention to. With water and nutrients in direct contact with your roots, the roots are much more sensitive than when grown in soil. Plants are much more sensitive to EC changes as well when grown hydroponically. An EC meter and a PH meter are requirements when preparing water for feedings. The amount of nutrient incorporated and as well as the acidity of the water are important factors to consider when cultivating cannabis.

Humidity plays a critical role in the development of flowers as well as transpiration and respiration. The optimum humidity levels for cannabis change depending on the growth cycle as well. During the vegative cycle the relative humidity can be 60-75%, dropping to 50-60% in the late vegative cycle. During the flowering cycle the humidity needs to stay low, around 40-50%. This will reduce the risk of mold and mildew issues as well as prevent lack of turgor pressure. Humidity affects the rate at which water flows in and out of plant leaves and stalks, so having the correct humidity levels to ensure your flowers are getting exactly what they need is also extremely important when growing cannabis.

Last but far from least is plant nutrition. All plants require the same base nutrients to flourish. Depending on the species, different combinations of nutrients are used to provide optimum nutrition to plants throughout the life cycle. The primary nutrients utilized by all plant life are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). These 3 nutrients are required for many life processes within the plant itself. Secondary nutrients Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), and Sulfur (S) are also utilized but on more specialized occasions. The ratios at which you administer these nutrients is also extremely important depending on which phase of growth you are in. Cannabis in vegative cycle will require much more Nitrogen (N) to fulfill its needs than while in flowering cycle. A plant in flowering cycle will also require much higher levels of Potassium (K) and Phosphorus (P) to support flower formation and maintain branch strength. It is extremely important to buy an EC meter to check the potency of your feed to ensure you are providing your plants with optimum nutrition and to prevent overfeeding and nutrient lockouts.

Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture 1

UNIT 2 DISCUSSION

(Question 1)

After thousands of years exchanging genetic information cannabis has an amazingly diverse gene pool. Each strain has adapted to environmental factors over generations to better suit its environment. This includes different combinations of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD, as well as different combinations of scent molecules or terpenes. Each strain is bred for desirable traits, such as bud structure or terpene profile. A desired flavor or characteristic in a chosen plant can be passed down genetically to its offspring, and with much time, energy, and several generations of breeding, that characteristic can be stabilized. Many different factors should come into play when breeding a cultivar such as resistance, yield, and height, but factors like smell and potency are also extremely important when breeding. These are the characteristics we as breeders are looking to cultivate and cross breed.

If I were to create my own breed of cannabis there are several characteristics I would try to incorporate. First I would want a Hybrid for the diversity in genes. I would want a plant short in stature around 36-48 inch in height to be easily grown indoors if necessary. I would look for a plant with short internodal spacing, to increase the size of colas and bud clusters. I want a terpene profile closely resembling Jack Herer with hints of grape. Terpinolene is a relatively rare terpene giving Jack Herer its distinct smell, which I would like to cross with something like a Grape Ape for the myrcene content. Both strains are extremely flavorful and have rich terpene profiles which exhibit medicinal properties as well. Once I have achieved the flavor profile I desire I would then try to incorporate genes to adjust the plants height, breeding a short plant like Critical Mass which shows great resistance to disease, is short in stature, and is one of the heaviest producing plants available.

The ideal end result would be a short plant, showing short internodal spacing, large bud cluster, having a purple hue, and smelling of grape and terpinolene. I would call my strain Jack Mass! This strain would be marketed toward the medicinal and recreational connoisseur. The strain would show anti-inflammatory effects as well as anti-mutagenic properties due to the terpinolene content, while also exhibiting calming and sedative effects from the myrcene. Both strains are high THC strains, and the resulting genetics could be marketed to consumers in all sectors.

The first step in the process begins with choosing parent genetics. I would start with the females and males of both Jack Herer and Grape Ape. Depending on whether I start from seed or clone, the next steps differ. If from seed germination will be the first step in the process. Once seeds have sprouted we transplant them into solo cups or small pots to begin building a solid root base. We move the plants into bigger pots after about 14 days to allow ample room for roots to grow and breath. To avoid transplant shock beneficial microbes such as mychorrezia can be administered to the root zone and soil before transplanting These microbes develop a symbiotic relationship with the roots, exchanging byproducts. The microbes eat dying plant material and dead root matter, while producing nutrients the plant can utilize in its growth. Once I choose the most vigorous male and female of each stain, they will be cloned and labeled to organize and preserve the genetics. The males will be isolated until the pollen is needed farther along in the flowering process to prevent unintended pollination. When female flowers are ready, we introduce the male pollen to the female flowers and the resulting genetic combination will be a mixture of characteristics from both parents. We harvest and reap our seeds, checking to assure they are viable. Again we repeat these, choosing the desired traits from the lot of offspring. These steps can be repeated over and over, creating infinite variations and keeping the genes diverse. This is the process of selective breeding, a process we have been using for millennia to breed things like plants resistant to disease as well as dogs being bred for their strength or agility. Desirable traits are purposely introduced into the gene pool to increase the likelihood of that trait's continuity. Over several generations of breeding and stabilization, a desired trait can be successfully passed down to the offspring as a dominant trait. This requires much time, energy, space, but most importantly organization. Creating your own breed of cannabis is entirely possible and hopefully by this time 5 years from now I will be able to enjoy my own Jack Mass.

(Question 2)

Transplant shock is a term used to refer to a number of problems that can occur in recently transplanted plants. There are several factors that dictate the success of a transplant and when done improperly your plants can suffer. When a plant is exhibiting transplant shock there are several signs which if paid attention to can assist in the rebound. First we need to know what transplant shock looks like so we can address the issue before it has negative effects on growth. How do you know if your plant is experiencing transplant shock?

Cannabis plants exhibiting transplant shock will show a decreased rate of growth than previously observed. The plants will be sluggish and will not seem to be doing anything above ground. All the energy is being directed to establish a new healthy root zone and establish a foundation to hold the plant firm and upright. You may also notice limp shoots as well as wilted leaves on a plant experiencing transplant shock. The plant no longer has enough root mass to supply all the terminal shoots and leaves with enough water or nutrients to support them. Until the roots have repaired themselves enough to proceed with vegative growth, a plant exhibiting transplant shock may seem to be frozen in time, showing no real signs of development. This entire process can set a cultivator back 2-4 weeks, heavily affecting his/her yield and potency. The first step to addressing these issues is understanding why?

When transplanting a seedling or clone, several factors play a role in its success. Before transplanting, a cultivator needs to moisten the hole prior to transplanting to ensure that the wet roots don't contact dry soil. This “shock” to the plant's root zone can send your plant into transplant shock and affect its development. When transplanting you also want to ensure that the intended clone or seedling is in fact ready and its roots have completely run through its container. When transplanting you do not want to disturb the root zone, so make sure you give them enough time to root. After your roots have completely run through the soil in the original cup, the soil will hold together much better while transplanting and the chances of transplant shock decrease greatly. Another important step that will prevent transplant shock is to water immediately and completely saturate the media upon transplant to ensure your root zone stays moist and never dries out. The use of beneficial microbes such as Mycorrhizae can be used to decrease the likelihood of shock as well. Hydrogen Peroxide can be used to aerate compacted soil, and provide root zone extra oxygen to assist in its development as well as sterilize your media. The key to preventing transplant shock is preparation and timing. If one is prepared when the time is right, transplanting can go on without a hitch.

Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture 1

UNIT 3 DISCUSSION

(Question 3)

The cannabis industry is still a federally unrecognized and unregulated industry, leaving large opportunities for imposters and fakes in the market. As a future employee of the cannabis industry I will be affected by these imposters marketing and competing in the cannabis space. The key is to stand out. Your company and product must be exceptional, normal or average will not cut it. In order to achieve and maintain success in the cannabis industry I feel as though there are several traits you must embody to succeed and flourish as a professional cultivator.

For a company to be successful in the cannabis space I truly believe you must rise above the rest. A company or employee who shows passion in what they do is the first trait I find necessary for a professional in this field. An entrepreneur or a dedicated employee who shows passion for their work can breathe life into a company. Passion can drive an individual much farther than the dollar sign. Somebody who is passionate about their work never really works. As the saying goes, time flies when you're having fun, and for an employee who is passionate about the cannabis industry everyday is new and full of potential. Passion is one of the most important traits I believe to be necessary for a professional in the industry.

In an ever growing and unregulated industry a company must also have a clear purpose to stand out. A clear and purpose driven mission statement usually sets the tone for your company. A mission statement clearly states your company's goals and values and provides your customers with the purpose and framework of the company. A clear and precise purpose must be demonstrated and expressed to your customers. A purpose driven employee or entrepreneur will set goals and achieve rather than wasting time and energy sitting stagnant. Purpose is the second trait a professional in the cannabis industry must possess.

The cannabis industry is very fast paced and changing daily, but for an individual to be successful they must also show patience and perseverance. A cultivator must show great patience when breeding and selecting plants for cultivating. Rigorous testing and visual observations need to be made to choose parental genetics, and then many rounds of breeding and propagation must take place to achieve desirable traits in a new breed. This requires many growth cycles to achieve a stable seed and genetic line. For this reason I believe patience and perseverance to be other important traits necessary in a cannabis professional.

To breed and cultivate cannabis a professional must also be organized. Organization is the key in a successful nursery, when all the plants have lost most of their visually identifiable features. Leaves are trimmed to uniform lengths and differentiating between clones or even many different cultivars becomes extremely difficult. For a company to make it in the cannabis space, they must show great organization skills from the beginning. A well organized business runs smoothly with little to no interruptions. When an interruption does occur it can be managed efficiently because everything is where and when it should be. Organization also plays a major role when it comes to taxes. With a cash only business without banking options, organizing your financing and books is crucial to a businesses success. If all transactions are not documented and organized, paying your taxes will be nearly impossible or if not extremely daunting and tedious. Organization is a must in the cannabis industry, and a well organized business will run much more efficiently and professionally than one who does not understand its importance.

Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture I

UNIT 4 Discussion

(Question 1)

The use of compost tea is a technique used by farmers to introduce biology into the soil or grow media which are beneficial to your plants. In nature a very complex symbiotic relationship has been formed between many different biological lifeforms and plants themselves. A wide variety of microbes, nematodes, fungi, flaura, and fauna among others are present in healthy living soil. These organisms exchange byproducts with the roots themselves creating a symbiotic relationship with each other. They also assist in the breakdown of organic material into a form the plants can more readily use. The interactions between soil biology and the plant root zone, also known as the rhizosphere, is extremely complex and interconnected and when the right biology is added to your soil or soilless media you will see a positive impact on your plants.

There are several different methods to incorporate compost or compost teas into your grow which were highlighted by Dr. David White. He demonstrated how to create an actively aerated compost tea from compost he creates on his farm from vegetable waste. He explained the many different biological lifeforms a single drop of an aerated compost tea can contain as well as the many benefits that biology can have on your plants as well. Dr. White discussed a few microbes and techniques which I found interesting and found useful to incorporate in my garden. He discussed using a mix of fish, feather, kelp, soy, and alfalfa meal as a source of food for fungi. This is interesting to me because the meal is not designed to provide nutrition to your plants, but the fungi and microbes which share a symbiotic relationship with said plant. Providing a diversity in foods ensures you cultivate both plant and biology. Another technique Dr. White discussed was the use of vermicompost. Vermicompost depends on a variety of worms to do the composting, which prove to be extremely good at what they do. Worm castings have proven to be the richest natural fertilizer discovered to date! With that being said, I will be sure to incorporate both of these techniques in my next grow.

Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture I

UNIT 5 Discussion

(Question 2)

Lighting is the most important factor to consider when cultivating cannabis. There is no replicating the sun when growing inside, but with technology advancing quickly there are several light sources that come close. The idea behind a good indoor light is replicating the many different spectrums of light that the sun provides artificially. Doing so has been a very daunting task which was not possible until recently. In the past cultivators needed to use separate lights during separate growth cycles of the plant to provide their plants with the optimum levels of light and correct spectrum. The use of Metal Halide bulbs is used during vegative growth because it gives off a more blue spectrum of light, higher on the Kelvin scale, which the plants receive and utilize more during the natural vegative cycle. Growers then need to switch the lights to a High Pressure Sodium bulb in flower to mimic the shift that occurs naturally during the autumn months. During the autumn months the sun is coming in at a different angle, causing a much greater red spectrum to penetrate into the atmosphere. The red spectrum is utilized much more during flowering and the HPS provides a red and far red spectrum which the plants would receive naturally in the autumn months. Another important factor which is only now being understood is the correct ratio of UV spectrum as well, showing increased resin and THC production. The issue has always been that no one bulb can provide all the spectrums required for optimum growth… until the LED was created.

LED lighting is a relatively new technology which has been improved on to better suit the horticulture industry. With LED lighting each diode can be set to a specific wavelength, giving the grower immense control when growing indoors. These diodes also give off much less heat meaning even greater control over the temperature in your growing environment. The use of LED lights can also aid in the common problem growers who grow under artificial lighting face with the inverse square law. Since the diodes run much cooler, you can run your lights much closer to your plants without the risk of burning the leaves while providing your plants with a greater intensity of light. Recently improvements have been made and now offer UV spectrum included in some models. LEDs also consume a fraction of the power a traditional HPS would consume, saving on electricity bills. I see LED lighting which includes UV spectrums to be the future of horticulture lighting. They are much cheaper to run and provide the grower with much greater control in all areas of horticulture.

One example of an LED lighting fixture geared toward horticulture needs is the Gavita Pro 1930e which is a true full spectrum fixture. It provides all the red, blue and UV spectrums your plants need to flourish. What is another LED fixture on the market you find promising and why?

(Question 4)

When dealing with cannabis THC and resin production are main selling points. THC levels and cannabinoid production are mainly determined by genetics but there are several factors that also play a role. As research into this plant progresses so do the techniques to increase yield and potency of the final product. One area of interest is the effect UV spectrum has on overall THC and cannabinoid production.

The use of UV spectrum in the grow cycle has been shown to have profound effects on THC and resin production in cannabis. With LEDs and other forms of lighting including UV spectrum into their designs, the quality of cannabis being grown is increasing as well. With augmented lighting being perfected and research being done into the efficacy of each spectrum on the specific growth phases the cannabis plant has, overall quality and potency of cannabis is increasing as well. The sun provides what people in the horticulture industry call “perfect” because it provides all spectrums including UVs. Plants produce trichomes and resins on the plants surface to protect itself from pathogens as well as from harmful UV light. When you incorporate a UV light into your grow, you will naturally tell your plants to build more resin and trichomes to protect itself from the higher levels of UV present. UV has also been shown to be a very powerful antimicrobial and antifungal, being used as a treatment for powdery mildew. The UV damages the DNA of the spores themselves, neutralizing them so they can no longer replicate and spread.

The use of UV light has been shown to greatly increase the potency of cannabis. What other methods can you find to increase the THC production in your plants?

UNIT 5 Journal Entry

Lighting sources play an extremely important role in the growth and development of cannabis and all other plants including our Stinging Nettles. Light energy is required for chloroplasts to produce chlorophyll, which is the plant's source of usable energy and source of food in forms of simple sugars. In nature the sun provides all the possible spectrum required as well as in intensities that cannot be fully achieved artificially. In the cannabis industry the use of artificial lighting fixtures has been gaining popularity, and as technology progresses so does the quality of light we can produce. The use of HPS and MH bulbs have been in use for decades, but the use of LED lighting is gaining popularity as the intensity of light produced increases while the amount of energy to run decreases. LED lights are becoming far more energy efficient than traditional bulbs but also are far more adaptive. UV spectrums have been incorporated into diodes as well, giving the farmer much more broad coverage and more closely mimicking the sun's natural range in spectrum.

At this point in time I am using a 600 Watt full spectrum LED from Lorendo. They are a full spectrum LED that provides the far reds as well as the blue spectrum. I own 4 of these fixtures, as well as a 1000 Watt HPS bulb, ballast, and hood. At this point in time the HPS is not in the room, as it is not needed at this time. The spectrum the HPS bulb emits is not ideal until the flowering cycle and also gives off a lot of heat that is difficult to deal with without proper ventilation so for now I am using the 600W LED. Since my stinging nettle is still a seedling, I have built a small grow box out of PVC, panda paper, and a zip door from Lowes and will use the LED until my room is complete. I am building a grow room and will include pictures once complete.

Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture I

UNIT 6 Discussion

(Question 1)

Farming is a skill which requires trial and error to fully comprehend. Talking about and doing are two completely different animals which is why I like to provide demonstrations in my discussion answers. I feel that having a working knowledge of my passions gives me a much better understanding of the why and how to address issues as they arise. I have been growing for close to ten years and I still make mistakes and learn from every one of them. I have killed plants due to overwatering and let plants die due to pumps failing in my aeroponic set up. I have dealt with powdery mildew many times over and have lost crops to bacterial issues in my reservoirs. I have made many mistakes along the way and have learned through experience the how and why.

For our final project we are designated the responsibility to design a grow space and germinate and grow a stinging nettle plant from seed. Having made this mistake before I paid special attention to not overwater or underwater while germinating. They are such small seeds, planting just one is not logical , so many were broadcast inside a solo cup. A quality organic potting mix was used (Roots Organic) which provides great aeration and water retention. Several dozen sprouted meaning I will need to thin them once they establish themselves. Temperature and humidity are extremely important especially when growing in an enclosed space so a thermometer/hydrometer combination is strongly recommended. Mine has shown throughout the beginning week that my humidity and temperature were slightly higher than optimum and a 4inch exhaust fan was incorporated to level out my temperature and humidity inside the room. I initially incorporated a dehumidifier inside the room, but the exhaust increased the temperature inside the room as well, making more of an issue. Through experience I learned that sometimes a dehumidifier is not the only option for dealing with humidity. This year in particular has been a moist summer and powdery mildew has been a problem throughout NY. Growers across NY are struggling to combat the powdery mildew as well as having issues curing any flower due to the high humidity levels.

Can anybody relate? Have any other growers noticed an issue this year with powdery mildew or curing of flower and how have you managed it?

(Question 2)

The term organic cannabis has been used loosely for several years now and has been gaining popularity recently. The only problem with the term is that the word organic is a term coined by the USDA and the federal government. For any product such as pesticides or fertilizers to claim to be organic or hold any organic certification they must face the same testing and approval that any other USDA approved product does. Cannabis is still a federally illegal substance meaning the USDA cannot and will not approve anything cannabis. Many people claim to be 100% organic, but as was discussed in the treatment methods video the term organic cannot be used when dealing with cannabis. I believe this will change as soon the federal government legalizes cannabis and allows room for the USDA to incorporate cannabis into the terminology.

As for now I agree with the term biologically based. What are your thoughts on organic cannabis?

Cannabis Agriculture and Horticulture I

UNIT 7 Discussion

The vegeative and flowering cycles of cannabis each have specific requirements necessary for optimum growth. What are the requirements needed for vegative growth?

During the vegative cycle there are several differences in routine and requirements a farmer must provide to their plants that differ from the flowering cycle. The duration of light provided should be 18-24 hours and the spectrum should be more blue. The nutrient regimen will be different during flowering as well. Much more nitrogen is used during vegative cycle, meaning a farmer will need to supplement more nitrogen to provide for increased growth. The temperature should be higher than in flower, around 75-80 degrees and the humidity at around 60-70 in early vegative and dropping as flowering gets closer. As long as these basic requirements are met a plant should exhibit vigorous vegative growth.