The IcySurfer Global Medical Marijuana & Health Resource

Medical Cannabis "Strain Knowledge" Pt. 2: Utilization - Avoid developing a tolerance...

Some Varieties are more prone to building up a tolerance than others....

To avoid this - keep a variety around. That way the balance of THC to Cannabinoids (CBNs) is varied, and you will not grow 'Bored' of any one certain strain. (Unless of course, it is one of those strains prone to that).

And, with a bevy of variety, some People mix their strains together in one rolled joint, or a pile to be smoked another way (pipe or bong) to keep it interesting for them. We call it a "Salad," or a "Bowlful Salad" (play on words on a "Soulful Ballad.")

Best solution to Tolerance Buildup is obtaining or growing primarily Strains that are ENERVATING, POTENT, and TASTY, so you do not get bored of any of them..!

Please - Store your Buds in an airtight (Preferably Glass) container. In the fridge. Unless, it is likely that the flowers will be smoked with a few days.  I have also found the BOVEDA Humidity packs at the 62 or 65% level to be helpful. Allowing for more than double the time that flowers stay fully fresh.

Some Indicas impart what I can only call a BORING Buzz. Makes one Stupid, or prone to lay down and fall asleep. A good technique for Night-Time use, that....

ROTSA RUCK w/ALL...!

pictured -- The ORIGINAL Blue Dream Clone-Only Variety from My Garden in Northern California's Mendocino Coast (DJ Short's Blueberry X Neville's Haze) at 45 days -

&

Triple Diesel CLONE-ONLY Cultivar - Indoor Garden with Hybrid LED and HPS / (Strawberry Diesel (Kyle Kushman's Strawberry Cough x ECSD) x ECSD X Chemdog pheno of NYCD)  by Icysurfer

The Times and Methods are a-Changin' - Hydroponic Spaceships etc.

Yes, State-of-the-Art facilities are springing up in Michigan - as in previously legal states.

 

I was lucky enough to operate the first run of flowers with two others, at one of these locations as a Trouble-Shooting consultant for the Inaugural run.

 

Troubles, there were, no doubt - but massive successes as well.

 

This is the SMALLEST of one of the five rooms, identically built. Gavita Double Ended 1000w fixtures above, and lots of them.

 

Upgrading the normal tubing that the Under Current system utilizes, to a  3-inch diameter PVC from soft tubing was a great plan. However there were many leaks, some catastrophic. Monitoring the water temp, PPM Level, and pH was also a struggle with the automation, at first.

 

The Spaceship has landed however - the system was brought under control. With tons of lattice material, the buds were secured. Cleanliness was possibly the most important factor.

 

We will be seeing more of these sort of facilities in the future,

 

I look forward to the design, planning and execution of such rooms.  Here, in The Mitten, we are all awaiting the Licenses to be approved and released. It has been a long haul, and sympathy goes out to those whose money has been tied up for months more than originally projected. 

 

Presently, I am working in 3 very large Class "A" size Container Gardens, including a warehouse of Mother Plants - utilizing the best nutrients available - to obtain top yields of Boutique quality Flowers for the Ann Arbor, Michigan Cannabis Market. 

10 Old-School Strains That May be in What You are Smoking Now - - - - in progress

NL - - NL 1 2 3 4 5 - "Northern Lights," an Afghani Highland Indica Hybrid. Low-Odour Low taste strain, depending on Phenotype. Great for breeding to increase yield and decrease flowering time of Sativas, and Sativa-Dominant Strains.

NL #5 is commonly considered the best all-around pheno of the original Northern Lights Phenotypes.

 

Skunk #1 - The legendary Cheese is a special pheno of sk 1. The ubiquitous Sk #1 was the first of the "Sensimilla" (without seeds) strains that made the scene. Most folks consider it came out of the Netherlands. After there was Sun-Dried Mexican, Colombian, and Jamaican, as well as Thai Weed - Skunk, and Skunk derivatives took over the American Weed World.

 

Haze - the lovely and popular Blue Dream would not be good without it. For most growers, producing anything even 50% Haze is impractical, as it can take upwards of 13 weeks to flower. Also, the effect is not what most 'Murkans are looking for. Europeans, however prefer the "in the head" HIGH, as opposed to the Body STONED that one receives from Indicas and Indica-Dominant Hybrids. The East Coast Favorite "Piff" is a Haze Phenotype.  The ever-popular Super Silver Haze (the most indica Strain of the Haze family, again depending on Phenotype discovered). There were several original Haze clones, some lettered as Haze A, B, C and D. Dutchman Nevile Shoemakers was the breeder usually associated with the Haze, hence the popular variety called Nevile's Haze.

 

 

Durban Landrace - an almost 100% sativa -  part of Cherry Pie, and thus the whole Girl Scout Cookie line. Has similar genetic background to Hazes. As most Equatorial strains do.

Mold resistant, less dense, these tropical sativas grow better in Humid environments than Indicas. Natures selective Darwinism guarantees that these strains proliferate in Southern Climates.

 

Afghani Genetics - NL, Master Kush, Bubba Kush and many squat statured Indicas are afghani highland strains. Many are Hybridized into sativas such as Amnesia Haze and others. Often these plants are denser in the buds than Sativas. They are receiving Higher UV rays, than other lowland strains. And colder temps. They can turn purple.

 

Big Sur Holy Weed - TH Seeds S.A.G.E. (Sativa Afghani Genetic Equilibrium) has it. Rare but legendary. Worthy of a mention.

 

Big Bud - not the most tasty, but great for breeding to shorten Sativa flowering times and increase yield. Afghani. Related to NL. Some phenotypes exhibit what I call the "Death Lettuce" structure, not productive or worthy of a place in the Mother Room.

 

Edited 03152018. TO BE CONTINUED

Present "Keeper" Phenotypes 03 20 2017

White Fire Glue #3 (of 4) -  Wifi Kush (Fire OG Kush x The "White") x Gorilla Glue #4 - from Relentless Seeds (original Breeder Pack). Best yielder of the 4 phenos. Has a mild OG Kush flavor, from the Fire OG which is very much like the San Fernando Valley OG Kush - very similar to the original CHEMDOG '91 cut that I won with out West for years. Chunky, swollen calyxes have high level "Bag Appeal." Photos to come.

"The Incredible Bulk" - A Big Bud / Skunk #1 hybrid backcross. Oldschool. Clone-only, chosen from a pack of Dr. Krippling Seeds by someone else. I traded for the clone. Not the most elite, but wonderful. Fans of Skunk #1 (the original Sensemilla) would love it. Good  yielder.  Good disease resistance. Photos to come.

Elmer's Glue - The "White" x Gorilla Glue #4.. Also chosen from a Breeder Pack of 10 'regular'  Seeds out of Relentless's stable. My pheno chosen from  5 females is Limonene terpine-wise, Dominant Grapefruit with a dank background. Earthy. Nice red hairs. Fast flowering period. Very Trendy Strain at this juncture in time. My ELMER's Glue Pic - click for enlarged photo ----->

Triple Diesel - The old standby. Have had the cut for 4 years now. Strawberry Diesel (Kyle Kushman's Strawberry Cough x Sour Diesel Clone only) x Chemdog pheno of "NYC Kush" x Sour Diesel Clone Only. Unique smell and taste. Sweet babypowder..? Sounds horrible. But it is considered Top Shelf - There's nothing like this Clone-Only cut from Colorado that wins awards. Good Yielder. Low Odor in growing. Long Flowering period. Poor disease resistance. My Triple Diesel Pic ----->

 

Seeds in Cold Storage eagerly awaiting germination:   

"Candyland" - Ken Estes / Grand Daddy Purps Seed Co. - 10-pack of regular seeds (not feminized - there will be Males and Females). Bay Platinum Cookies (Bay 11 Sativa x Forum Cut Girl Scout Cookies) X Grand Daddy Purps (Purple Urkel x Big Bud - "GDP" is Theee best strain, in my book anywhere).

"Sour Strawberry Kush" - BOG Seeds :  11 pack of regular seeds. Sometimes tough to germinate BOG Seeds. But, this one is a hybrid of legends. East Coast Sour Diesel Clone only x Strawberry Cough (Kyle Kushman's original) x The wonderful Sour Bubble (BOG's flagship strain) Original Indiana Bubblegum x Sour Diesel Clone. All in All a real winning strain in the past.

"Fire Alien Urkel" - OG Raskal Seeds : 10 pack of regular seeds. Fire OG Kush (Like Chemdog '91) x Alien Kush (slightly Indica version of OG) x Purple Urkel (Low yielder, but my favorite smoke along with GDP)..

NEW - Relentless Seeds - Elmer's Glue & Triangle Cookies (White Cookies) - Photos from the Garden

Could not be happier with the results of this 9 month project.

 

Started out with 40+ seeds, including some old ones that did not germinate. BOG and Rare Dankness. All the Relentless Seeds DID germinate. And I am happy with the three I chose as Keepers.

 

Some pics below, with More to come. So busy smoking it, processing clones, and starting a new run of these. As well as maintaining a small 2.5 light room of same. Halfway done, and looking even more interesting than the photos shown.

 

I do not think of these as High-Yielders, unfortunately. It is possible to coax a good amount of flowers out of a White Cookies Clone, if enough topping is utilized, as well as Super-Cropping. However, another strain - with the same conditions would produce more. In terms of Holy Grail Cultivars, neither of these make the cut - even though the quality is definitely there. 

White Cookies has a distinct Buttercream scent, amazing. The Elmers holds true to its' "Wifi" (White Fire OG Kush) heritage. One can smell the Kush as the dominant odor. 

  

CLICK on Pics for enlargement------------------------>

 

                                                                              Middle pic has Elmer's Glue and one Cured White Cookies nug in the bottom right corner, the one with foxtails.

 

NEW EDIT: See 45 day flowered White Cookies pic in upper right. click for enlargement. More pics to come

Mr. Nice Seeds Northern Lights #5 x Haze (Shantibaba/Nevillle Collaboration)

 

I discovered a ridiculously vigorous cut of NL5 Haze C from a Mr Nice Seeds Fem 6 pack. The "newer" version of the Mr Nice NL5 x Haze seed line. Still bred by Shantibaba. I tossed the other potential keeper, which was NL5 dominant (my goal) due to EXTREME herming in the 5th day of flower..>! - Haze derivatives can be very sensitive to even a pinhole of light. Which may occur in the grow. But, does not affect any other varieties, or my chosen phenotype of the NL5 Haze. In this case, it was the genetic, as no other strains in the same space missed a beat...

 

This definite Sativa-Dom cut I kept has shown NO signs of anything weird. I have never seen such vigor, in veg, either. My guess - it's going to be an 11 - 12 week flowering cycle. 78+ days. I foresee the budding sites joining up, or 'stacking.'

 

With NL crosses, the yield can be absurdly high. With live buds as large as 2 liter bottles. This one looks like a good yielder, but I'm not expecting "Louisville Slugger" (baseball bat) sized buds.

 

It absolutely refuses to take on Mildew, even if it is rubbed with it. I wasn't too impressed with its slowwww production or typical piney haze smell (4 test plants in 2 pots, in a tent of Trip D). until tonight - when I noticed at day 41 of 12/12 (flowering) - that it had started to develop a special odour that I cannot describe, besides a wild and unique variant of Haze. A perfume smell that I call sexy. For lack of a better term, cause if I saw or smelled a woman with it on, I'd follow her anywhere.

 

Before 1937 when cannabis was made illegal to preserve the drug war after prohibition, 65% of perfumes were made primarily with various strains of cannabis - worldwide -

 

Medicinal THC was also available in US pharmacies in natural tinctures until Henry Anslinger and collective Reefer Madness changed all that. (Also a form of racism toward African-Americans and Hispanics which led to mass incarceration). F

 

Followed up by Nixon, and his self-declared "War on Drugs" (or hippies and African-Americans, depending on who you talk to). ----------------- rant over.

 

The founder of Mr Nice seeds (Welshman, Howard Marks) is a major Activist, so why not continue the tradition. ?

 

Anywhoooo, the buds on the NL5 Haze chosen cut are stacking up. I was concerned that they would be 13+ weekers, but it does not appear to be that long. If it happens to be, there will definitely be a large reward in quality and or quantity. It is always exciting to discover something novel in a seed pack.

 

Most people shy away from Haze varieties, especially in Indica-loving USA. Since they produce a Head High, as opposed to a couchlock stone, that us crazy Americans seem to enjoy.

 

For some, though, a hybrid high that produces energy without heart racing paranoia is a holy grail. This phenotype MAY produce racy Haze highs. We';; see. I have grown to enjoy that. Especially, since it is rare outside Europe.

 

  I have a while veg room filled with the clones. And a set of new starts in the cloning machine. The Pheno I isolated can be flowered at 8-10 inches, due to the profuse 3 week stretch at the onset of flowering -  but my veggers are 2 foot tall, AFTER I hacked the tops off for clones. DANGER WILL ROBINSON... A Jungle in the making. Out of 40 seeds, of varying packs - this is the only seeming keeper. The other 34 seeds were very Good genetics too, but this is all I got.

 

I only go for good hybrid yielders now. Nothing else is worth the space.

 

Overgrow the Gummint -

 

Pics to follow

 

 

Here they are...! 

Triple Diesel - bulking up, and Midway - New Photos from the Grow Room

   

 

Previous run

 

More Recent Run approx 45 days of 12/12 light regimen - stout but stocky...!

 

 

Click on the Fotes for enlargement and super magnification

New Photos of the Garden 01142016

  

 

 

 

 Triple Diesel Clone-Only from My Garden

 

 

 

 

Pure Trichomes Ice/Water-Processed Triple D

 

Triple Diesel Bud From Colorado 

Broad, Cyclamen, and Russet Mites: Cannabis - The New Scourge

Question from my Online Compatriot ZEET: 

I've seen a few posts about broad mites from you and don't know exactly what you are talking about.  I was at the cup here in MI too and I read that you had seen a bunch of plants that had them.  I  got a few clones from there and one in particular has a odd leaf thing going on.  Not sure that it is broad mites but I don't know exactly what to look for.   

Are they a systemic sort of thing?  like will the clones of clones have them?  
Is there a good way that you know to get rid of them or to manage them?

 ICYSURFER REPLY:

This is a VERY difficult class of insect to control, for many reasons. Most growers are powerless in the face of an infestation.

The photo to the right is a leaf damaged by the insects. Note the leaf-stem, powdery. Reddish, dry looking. The edges of the leaf curling up.

One must act preventatively, which is more likely to allow for continued control from the BM's. Especially, if One accepts clones and plants from others' gardens. Or if the specimens are moved from outdoors into an indoors growing scene (which is never recommended).

In addition, one must be aggressive in tossing away varieties that are prone to attack. Some strains are more able to withstand the bugs. OR, the BM;s are more aggressive with some strains. This occurs with Spider Mites, although they act in completely different ways, and do absolutely different damage.

There is a thread called "Broad Mites?" on the venerable forum at   www.icmag.com which has tons of information. Mostly in the "vegging state," are the Bugs easier to see, as well as their damage. In flower, some folks wonder why the yield was one-haldf of normal, but it can still be possible to pull off a crop. That is part of the problem. People don't realize they have the insects in the garden, until it is too late. In flower, the pistils are half as long as usual. Almost as if they were burned, or oversprayed. Sometimes they brown up at the tips. The buds are not as juicy as normal, and can yield absolute zero on some strains. Especially purple strains.   

                                                                                                                   
It is far easier to see the eggs than the bugs.  Note, the singular one in the photo. They exhibit a pattern that appears to be a grid, in most scopes. The following picture is under extreme magnification. One needs at least a 60x scope or jeweler's loupe to see anything. The Broad Mites are 1/150 of an inch. Sounds not so small, but they are. Once one knows what ones' looking for, it is possible to BARELY see the bugs. But the presence of the eggs, and the  leaf-curling and 'stipling' are symptoms of the BMs passing which are enough to go on. The photo of the green leaf, with the presence of Mites shows the ' leaf-stipling' that I refer to.

Popular "It" varieties are the most likely to have BMs, or cyclamen/russet mites. Often, simply because these strains are being shared more than others. All the same results pretty much in terms of effect. The bugs chew on mostly the bottoms of the leaves, and their saliva poisons the plant. Leaves twist, and do odd things. The edges of the fingers in the leaves rollup like taco shells. They appear dry, or crispy on the sides which curl up. Discoloration follows the edges of the leaves, and the central point where the fingers meet is often reddish. This is a part of the leaf structure where the bugs usually congregate, although they often hang out on the leaves as well.

Here is an example of highly-developed infestation.

 

Whiteflies are necessary to control as well. As unlikely as it sounds, although the bugs are able to walk to new parts of the plants - where they take the Females to new 'territory' in order to mate, the Mites are often able to 'hitch a ride' on the legs of the flies. As in this extremely magnified photo that is appaling.

New growth is the favorite food of these bastards. You will notice it there first, and in veg. The small new leaves turn yellowish, and then the dry, and crispiness I describe above can occur. Or the new growth seems to stop and shrivel up. Also, other leaves will twist. This is NOT Tobacco Mosaic Disease. TMD is very rare, and the Broad Mites are unfortunately, not. 

The almost-microscopic pests can wipe out a veg room. After many years, quite a few experienced growers have been thwarted by the presence of these seemingly new bugs on the scene.

There are even those who maintain that the infestation was a conspiracy. One could 'seed' the clones at one of the premier dispensaries in Northern California with BMs, and the bugs would thus be transferred throughout the whole Medical Cannabis Community in very short order.

When the Bugs attack, many people do not notice the problem until it is far past too late. That is a characteristic of the Broad/Cyclamen/Russet Mites that makes them so hard to control. One seems to need to live through an infestation to really learn what to look for. Unfortunately, it is often essential to start over with completely new equipment, and maybe change locations.

Heat treatments for the plants are the most effective way to treat plants. 110 degrees held at 20 to 30 minutes will allow all the eggs and bugs to be eradicated. Keeping that temperature is harder than is seems.

Spray solutions also work. Avid alternated with Forbid every 8 days or so. Reverse Osmosis water. Some surfactant, a couple drops dishsoap, "coco-wet" is a wetting agent made for plants and is best.

 

To be continued.

Emerald Cup 2015 winners - - Santa Rosa, California - Sonoma County Fairgrounds - Inland NorCal

PLACE	ENTRY ID	JUDGING ID #	ENTRY NAME	COMMENTS	REPRESENTATIVE
1	H3P2U5	FL373	Cherry Limeade	Ban de Soteil Suntan Lotion, Swamis Toes are Giggling, TANG	Mean Gene from Mendocino, Freeborn Selections/Aficionado
2	K9N3J9	FL371	Lemonhead OG	Butterscotch, Big Expansion, Wave of Bliss, Head Rush	Josh Pope, THC
3	X4G9K6	FL13	Purple Candy Cane	Grapefruit Soap DELICIOUS, Body Tingle, Nosetickler	Greenshock Farms Mendocino
4	C1B4I9	FL182	School House	Baking Cookies, Well Done Roast Beef, OK Effects :{	South Fork Seed Collective
5	D7A3P9	FL57	Loopy Fruit	Almost Perfect, Blackberry Guava, 1st Joint of the Day	Duke, Royal Budline
6	Y8K7A6	FL216	Cherry Limeade #6	Orange Turpentine, Feelings…Feelings… Everything is a Song	Leo Stone/Cahto Carlo/Mean Gene, Aficionado Estates
7	F3P1E8	FL291	In the Pines	Pineapple Upsidedown Cake, Red Hots, Tingly and Strong	Derek Roseboom, My Way Organics
8	F2J3U6	FL337	Dogwreck	EvanderHolyFuel, Seeing Stars, DAMN!!!	Karl Witt, Eden Farms Cooperative
9	B5I2Z7	FL32	Mang Thai Doo	Herbal Essence, Chlorine, Uncomfortable Jolt - 4 Agreeded	Daisy Hodgeman, Herbs N Cures Farms
10	O5J1L9	FL86	Chernobyl	Lemon Curd, Stony in the Stony Sense, Old Cabernet Wine	Thomas Martin, Pistil Smoke Alliance, Inc.
11	C6X9V3	FL199	Cherry Limeade #10	Lemon Vodka Innertube, "WTF is This Shit - Winner Hands Down"	Mean Gene from Mendocino, Freeborn Selections/Aficionado
12	C2M2E8	FL361	Jedi Kush	Deep Musk, Arugula, Channa Dahal, Spacey as……..	Vince Sims, Emerald Essence
13	O8C8B4	FL363	Orange Drank	Super Strong Grapefruit, Sweet Lime Soda, Gave Us a Bump	3rd Gen Fam/Terphogz/Dyingbreed Seeds/Moonshine Melts
14	K8M5H4	FL372	TRANSformer	Dried Fish Skin, Peppermint Taste, Suttle Effects	Stay Spliffted, Freeborn Selections, Aficionado Seeds
15	M1I3W1	FL170	Cherry Noir	Thai Cucumber Salad with Sweet Sauce, I LOVE this Weed	Cahto Carlo/Mean Gene, Aficionado Estates
16	F2G5Z4	FL328	Gorilla Glue	I Want to Eat It, Good Flavor, Very Strong	John Beck, Island Mountain Organics
17	V6S6X6	FL22	Honey Bananas Full Season	Valentine Sugar Hearts, Delayed Aftertaste, Head Pressure	Eshwar Rajagopal
18	P9N8A9	FL214	Gorilla Glue #4	Sour Milk and Honey, Open the Window - I Need Some Air	Emerald Valley Farms/MBR Farm
19	L8Z3P9	FL93	Watermelon Rancher	Fresh Latex Paint, Paprika, Good Focus Weed	Blaze, Blazing Oaks
20	F5X7Y3	FL139	El Chapo	This Strain has Phermones, Janitors Closet, Smoked Entire Joint	Cannabiotix

Flowers CBD

PLACE	ENTRY ID	JUDGING ID #	ENTRY NAME	COMMENTS	REPRESENTATIVE
1	A3P9F4	CBDF18	Critical Mass CBD	N/A	Matthew Cirincioni Chalawa Farms
2	P7W1A8	CBDF19	Cannatonic	N/A	Duncan McIntosh/Singing Frogs Family Farm
3	W2I3Z1	CBDF3	Love 'n Hope	N/A	Jude Nagle, Mendocino Medicinals
4	R1Z4V2	CBDF15	78 OG Affie	N/A	Kris Schuster - Terravida Farms

VARIETIES ARE CLICKABLE - Leads to the Emerald Cup Website, with pictures and further descriptions of the Strains.

New photos 10302015

Related genetics - (click for enlarged views)

GDP

 

 

Outdoor greenhouse GOD's GIFT

 

 

 

Purple Erkle Greenhouse

 

 

Purple Erkle Hydro

Grazie, Dank U wel, Danke, Gracias, Thanks eh, Thank You, Mahalo Nui Loa for all my foreign readers - and of course my countrymen/women

I appreciate your readership immensely. I have been recharged and will produce more content for you in the near future. New Crop Triple Diesel and Gorilla Glue #4 ready in a couple weeks for your viewing.

HT MAG Cannabis Cup Winners - ALL CATEGORIES - Michigan - Vienna Twp. - Genesee County Aug 22-23

 

2015 Winners

 

This Writers favorite flower seen, for the 2nd time in 2 years was RARE DANKNESS - MOONSHINE HAZE.....

BEST INDICA FLOWER

• 1st - Zkittlez - 3rd Gen Family & Terphogz with The Union
• 2nd - Strawberry Banana - Greenwolf Oregon with G.C. Rebellion Farms
• 3rd - Deathwalker OG - Radicle Genetics in collaboration with Lenz and Valerio

BEST SATIVA FLOWER

• 1st - Strawberry Banana - Mass Genetics
• 2nd - Tropicana - Cannabiotix
• 3rd - Dreamy Jones - Bud White at Interlochen Alternative Health

BEST HYBRID FLOWER

• 1st - Sunshine #4 by Bhodi Seeds - The Green Room Detroit
• 2nd - Savant's Grail - 710 Savant
• 3rd - Crown OG - Crown OG with A Detroit Alternative and Moxie 71

BEST INDICA CONCENTRATE

• 1st - Feygo Red Pop Live Resin - 710 Savant
• 2nd - Grape Valley Kush Live Resin - PeaceOil
• 3rd - Moxie Goji Live Resin - A Detroit Alternative

BEST SATIVA CONCENTRATE

• 1st - Clementine Live Resin - Crockett Family Farms
• 2nd - Romulan Grenade's Live Plant Run - LightSky Farms with NLG
• 3rd - Tangie Live Resin - Greenwolf Oregon and Moxie Genetics

BEST HYBRID CONCENTRATE

• 1st - Strawberry Banana Lemonade - Greenwolf Oregon and Moxie 710
• 2nd - Strawberry Banana - Loud Pack Extracts Oregon with Moxie Mix
• 3rd - Crown OG - Moxie Genetics with ADA East

BEST NON-SOLVENT HASH

• 1st - Goji Rosin - Moxie Seeds & Extracts with ADA East and Foundation Extracts
• 2nd - Moxie Solventless Goji 120-micron - A Detroit Alternative
• 3rd - 73-micron Bruce Banner #3 Freeze Dried Water Hash - Michigan Made Melts in collaboration with Kushmanjockin

BEST CBD FLOWER

• 1st - Perkins Cut Cannatonic - Mota Rebel Genetics
• 2nd - CBDee's #1B - Pure West Compassion Club with LightSky Farms
• 3rd Place - Super Sonic CBD - Radicle Genetics in collaboration with Valerio

BEST CBD CONCENTRATE

• 1st - CBD Cookies / Cannatonic X / Cannasphere - Kannacare in collaboration with TerpTitan
• 2nd - CBDee's #1B Live Plant Run - Pure West Compassion Club with LightSky Farms
• 3rd - Startonic Sap from Genotype A2 and A2 Wellness by ZombeeLabs

BEST CBD EDIBLE

• 1st - Special Fx Labs CBD Dark Chocolate Mint - Jackson County Compassion Center
• 2nd - Cherry Almond Sherbet Delight - CBD Special from ArborSide Delights
• 3rd - CBDee's Strawberry Lemonade - LightSky Farms with NLG

BEST EDIBLE

• 1st - Kief Krispy - Budsuds with R.I. Finest with Kief Krispy
• 2nd - Captain Kirk's Truffle Tropicales - Captain Kirk Edibles of Ann Arbor Health Collective
• 3rd - Got Milk? - Midnight

BEST TOPICAL

• 1st - PBO - PBOHeals.com
• 2nd - Budsuds Purple Chem Topical Soap Bar - Budsuds with R.I. Finest and The Cali Connection
• 3rd - Trûû Hemp Infused Lotion - Mindright

BEST BOOTH

• 1st - Dab Stars
• 2nd - Moxie
• 3rd - Advanced Nutrients/Weed Wear

BEST PRODUCT

• 1st - Moxie Mix - MOXIE
• 2nd - HBI - Raw Papers
• 3rd - Advanced Nutrients/Weed Wear - Advanced Nutrients/Weed Wear

 

The *** Lifestyle *** - - - - Pt 1 *** Legal or not - The MASSIVE Question of Mates as an MMJ Producer - discussed by master growers

 

--------------------

Mi Internet Amigo, Ziggaro

My wife doesn't drink doesn't smoke. If anyone came looking and ran into her I think they'd look somewhere else.
Me on the other hand... I gotta cut my damn hair.
But this is my wife, I don't bring my girlfriends around

 

--------- Icysurfer Here: 

Humour, quite welcome...! hahahahaha Well said.

I've tried the GF thing. Even though., as I said, the one's history of BF's were ALL growers, yet one day, She told Me that She didn;t want Me to grow.. Quiet, you....!

There were a few established couples who were well equipped to do this 'thing' even if one had a job elsewhere. Or not. Like 30% max. But most Fembots are dangerous....! At some point. Too bad, p*ssy is pretty awesome, haha. In urban life, before growing, BTing in 3 different excellent Clubs over 6 years, I got so much to last 2 lifetimes, of all 'flavours.' Nice too. As well as months of (cheap) 'adventurous' travels when I worked in the Travel Industry. So, I;m good. Although, more is welcome.

As a surfer, occasionally (not enuf..!) when I was in Mendo COastal, a woman would be watching me frolic in the waves. When I get out, and walking to my car, or watching me change out of my wettie (this more in the bay area decades ago) I have been approached, talked up, and even propositioned. I am well willing and able to utilize me Dang, but NEVER went further with any of them, cause - well - it was a small-town area - and they were just not the sort I'd want to know where I live (ex-BF;s, who knows what hazards they bring - X-factors are NEVER acceptable, if able to be avoided - Stasis / ICYSURFER rule #1).

Triple Diesel Clone-Only Pics from the Grow Room ( ECSD x NYCD x STRAWBERRY DIESEL)

    Click on 'em for an expanded Micro-view

 

 

 

 

 

From the new room - same cutting - The Top Crown Bud Structure of 1 plant. Taken at 67-68 days flowering  -->

 

 

Gil Scott-Heron One of our great voices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7vSEBR_T5o

 

He told the truth like no other, smoove movah.

 

Gil Scott-Heron

Cannabis Cup Winners Amsterdam 2014

Best Coffeeshop Strain

1 – Cookies Kush by Barney’s Coffeeshop

2 – OG Reekn by The Green Place

3 – Pure Kush by The Green House

 

Best Sativa by a Seed Company

1 – Tangie Crockett's Cut by Crockett Family Farms

2 –Tangie by DNA Genetics

3 – Lemon Bubble by PhenoFinders

 

Best Indica by a Seed Company

1 – Colorado Bubba by The Vault Genetics 

2 – The Truth by True Canna Genetics

3 – Kosher Kush by DNA Genetics

 

Best Hybrid by a Seed Company

1 – Larry OG by The Vault Genetics

2 – Star Killer by Rare Dankness Seeds

3 – Night Nurse by BC Bud Depot

 

Best Import Hash by a Coffeeshop

1 – Super Lemon Haze Cream by the Green House

2 – Carmella Cream by Barney’s Coffeeshop

3 – Twisla by The Green Place

 

Best Import Hash (Concentrates) by a Seed Company

1 – Super Lemon OG Concentrate by Loud Pack Extractions & Greenwolf, LA

2 – Paris OG Shatter Dab Vader for Oasis Medical Seeds in Flint, MI

3 – Lemon OG 18 Live Resin by DNA Unlimited

 

Best Neder Hash by a Coffeeshop

1 – Cookies Ice-Cream by Barney’s Coffeeshop

2 – Green House Ice by The Green House

3 – Grey Crystan by The Grey Area

 

Best Neder Hash by a Seed Company

1 – The Kong 73 Non-Solvent Hash by The Vault Genetics

2 – Betty Ross by DNA Grow Your Own

3 – Barb 99 - Drysift by House of the Great Gardener

 

Highest CBD –  Concentrates

CBD Simple from CannaVest

 

Highest CBD – Flowers

CBD Rene by House of the Great Gardener

 

Best Glass

1 – Roor

2 – Flav421 History in the Making by the Dampkring Gallery

3 – Team Japan Onigari/ Demon Hunter by the Dampkring Gallery

 

Best Product

1 – The Loud Seeds Gift Bag

2 – Devil’s Harvest

3 – Sensi Seeds

Open Web Photography Collection..! A touch of levity.

Don't Jimi and his pal Joan Baez look happy..?

 

 

More to come

Click on the pics for a larger view

 

 

c - unknown phototographers

 

 

"Girl Scout Cookies" Medical Marijuana - The New "It" Bud - Strain Knowledge #7

Every two or three years, an exciting new variety of Medical Marijuana arrives on the scene to shake up the status quo.

A recent variety to enter this elite group is the famous "Girl Scout Cookies,"  A poly-hybrid strain, containing some of the best genetics available in the world, it is a feat of genetic engineering.

Containing aspects from the dank, candy-flavored Granddaddy Purple, beefed up with old-school Sativa genetics, the "Cookies" brings together a pleasing triad of differing flavors. Including the legendary OG Kush, touches all bases, in an amazing hybrid that has taken the Cannabis world by storm.

The beautiful "GSC" flowers impart a complicated mix of flavors when smoked or vaporized. Present are Cookie Thin Mint flavors (hence the name), chocolate candy, diesel fuel, lemon and more nuances. In total, a very complex bouquet and taste when allowed to fully mature on the plant.

Visually, the myriad colors inherited from the Grand Daddy Purple part of the genetics are complete Eye-Candy. "Grandaddy Purps" imparts a rainbow color-field with gold, red, green, purple, and all the hues in between. The look of the flowers is, in itself, a good reason to love the Grand Daddy Purple. Some say that the GDP grown correctly, possesses maybe the most beautiful flowers available ever.

The poly-hybrid from a Medical standpoint is helpful for many ailments. One can obtain pain relief,  appetite augmentation, sleep, focus, ADHD, PTSD, Fibromyalgia, inflammation disorders, as well as many others.

Breaking down the genetic makeup of this very popular "It" strain reveals the rare clone-only "Cherry Pie" cutting crossed with the unique OG Kush.

The "Cherry Pie" is Durban Poison (Skunk #1 x South African Durban Sativa) crossed with The Graddaddy Purple (a clone-only Cutting of note from California). The Cherry Pie was then crossed with the incredibly narcotic sativa-dominant hybrid, a previous "It" strain in its' own right, known as OG Kush. Or sometimes as "Chemdog." The OG adds a dieselly-mothball-pine-lemon combination that is very sharp. Many folks consider the OG Kush to be the best Bud in the world, with good reason. It is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. OG Kush has won, and will continue to win Cannabis Competitions worldwide. An incredible "triad" is represented by this hybrid.

As the dominant part of the Poly-Hybrid, the Grand Daddy Purple is the most resognizable aspect of this cross.  Dissecting the Grand Daddy Purps genetics shows a plant built from an amazing mix of Purple Erkle and Sensi Seeds Big Bud. The Erkle on it's own has an excellent "purple grapey dankness" taste, and a sleepy relaxing effect. In the growroom, the Purple Erkle can turn out almost black, if temperatures are low enough. Possessing thick golden hairs, or "Pistils," it is disarmingly beautiful, but a horrible yielder. Thus, the addition of the beefy, but not-super-flavorful Big Bud, to increase bud production. The Big Bud does not add much flowering time to the quick-flowering Erkle.

The unmistakable sativa aspect in the Girl Scout Cookie Cut comes from the Dutch Passion Seed Company's "Durban Poison." This genetic is a sativa/indica cross from the 70's, comprising a South African "Durban Sativa" Landrace and the ubiquitous indica breeding tool, "Skunk #1." It was very popular as a seedpack for decades, but has truly re-appeared of late. Durban Poison has a hazy, "sativery" flavor, and can take a longer time to flower than many indicas - albeit short for an equatorial variety.

The Durban, being a  rare, relatively quick flowering Sativa "landrace," was attractive to the original breeders. The inimitable Ed Rosenthal traveled the world, looking for genetics, secured the seeds, got them home, and worked the line with the help of his old partner Mel Frank. As two of the most important people in the world of cannabis, they taught more  people to grow Medical Marijuana than Youtube ever will.

OG Kush, as approximately one-third of the cross, is perhaps the most unique and memorable strain to ever hit the Cannabis world. It brings a very unique piney, fuel-ly, old-school dank flavor and smell which is unmatched. Rock-hard buds with exploded calyxes, the buds sometimes appear seeded, but are not. Like the Grand Daddy, the OG is a treat to look at as well, but a different look.  Providing an incredible, soaring narcotic high, the OG Kush / Chemdog can be too much for some.

A low-yielding strain, with a tendency toward attracting fungal diseases, the price of  " The Kush "  used to be astronomically high. The Growers worked very hard to get these difficult plants to market. Sung about in Rap Music, many were taken aback at the initial appearance of the strain, as the narcotic effect from the OG bud is like no other. Contrary to popular belief, OG is Sativa-dominant, not an Indica. Enervating, and a happy high, it is very strong, A strain not for the lightweight ! This fantastic strain adds a strong punch to an already diverse effects package in the Cherry Pie.

At the onset of the Girl Scout Cookie craze - in 2011 - it was possible to get the real thing. And special it was. One San Francisco / Geary Street Cannabis Club had seemingly almost exclusive proprietary rights to this unique genetic for years. The cutting was held close within "Berner's Group." A rapper from SoCal, who found an excellent phenotype that turned the Medical Marijuana community of the Bay Area in Northern California on its' collective ear.

Then the greed factor creeped in.

In these early days of "Wild West Cookie Hysteria," growers began to  harvest the plants a week or more too early to get to cash-out and a quick re-plant. This practice produces substandard Medical Marijuana, but adds almost one whole crop to the Growers' year. Unfortunately, the quality of the GSC went down in the clubs of San Francisco, where the Cut first appeared. Many copycat versions appeared as well. Because this genetic requires a full flowering cycle to show its' colors and develop the full medicinal effect and flavor spectrum that it is capable of, it became challenging to find a good representation of a once great strain. The recommended flowering time of 63-67 days was not unusually long, but could be shaved by almost 10 days by Growers under pressure.

Although the original Berner's Cut of the Girl Scout Cookie Strain is still out there, discerning it from the many other versions of the GSC available now is not possible without growing it out. At the present time, finding the original would be almost impossible. Even in the early years of the GSC, it was elusive at best.

As can be expected, seed-breeders quickly began rising to the occasion at the onset of Cookie-Madness. As of this writing, there now are several companies offering a version of "The Cookies." From a growing perspective - finding the quality contained within a seedpack is a major task, and a labor of love. Whether similar to the Original Clone-only Cut of GSC or not, there may be excellent phenotypes contained within the seedpacks well worth pursuing. It depends on the genetics that the Seed Breeder used to develop the seeds.

To discover "Gold" in a pack of beans is a 9-10 month process, or a 4 month task for clones,. The Grower dedicates a certain amount of floor space to a new project, to the detriment of an already producing flowering crop. There are opportunity costs to discovering new phenotypes from seed, from a usable space perspective.   

Loss of genetics occurs when people find the odd seed in a sack or jar of buds, and grow it out. Usually, naming the resulting plant "Girl Scout Cookies." Since the original GSC is a clone-only, however, and never changes, this addition to the gene pool can dilute the original genetics. If clones are released as GSC, then the gene pool is forever changed. The reality is that to pop (germinate) a seed opens up the possibility of finding any number of representations of what is contained within the hybrid.  The odds of ending up with the exact ratio of Cherry Pie to OG Kush that the original "Cookies" cut had are very slight, with all the variables within the genetics.

Equally wise, is to find a Master Grower, and let them grow it. Then purchase it as a treat at your local "registered" Medical Marijuana dispensary.

Remember to Vote this year, regardless of your stand.

The next Strain Knowledge piece will discuss the very latest "It" strain from 2014, known as "Gorilla Glue #4," which is taking awards worldwide as we speak.

 

 

 

c K. Aaron / Icysurfer Worldwide Medical Marijuana Consulting 2014

" Grand Daddy Purple " Rainbow-Hued Dank Perfection - Strain Knowledge #6

An amazing example of California genetics, Grand Daddy Purple is definitely another of the most popular strains in The Golden State for good reason. Granddaddy may be the most beautiful flowers available among the Purple Urkle hybrids that hit the scene in the early 2000's.  Many growers were featuring "Grandaddy Purps" in their gardens, and demand was high.

The Medical Benefits of this delightful strain are many. One derives benefits from both the Sativa and Indica lineage within the Grand Daddy Purple mix. Anti-Anxiety effects from the Sativa part of the "Big Bud"  contained in the genetic may be the strongest benefit. In addition, hunger is augmented for patients in Chemotherapy losing their appetite, due to an inability to taste food, or a desire to ingest it. There is also always an aromatherapy component to aromatic cannabis like GDP. A pleasant feeling simply emanates as the odor is diseminated around the space. If the plant is completely allowed to mature, there will be a sleep-inducing effect as well.

Supposedly bred by a medical marijuana patient named Ken Estes in The San Francisco Bay Area,  the cutting originally appeared in many California compassion clubs. Including Harborside in Oakland California.

 This 70/30 +/- Indica-Sativa hybrid has always been a staple of Northern California since it appeared. Surprisingly, the genetic has not been completely diluted. Several local Harvest Festivals have been won by this strain, or variations of it with many different monikers. The most famous being the much talked about "It" strain called "Girl Scout Cookies," which is Grand Daddy-dominant, but only about 30% genetically.

Purple Urkle and Big Bud are the two components in the GDP mix.

"Purple Urkle" is an almost 100% Indica variety. Definitely an Indoor strain, unless one is growing outdoors in an extremely dry climate. The lovely purple-hued plants finish flowering under 12 hours a day of light in about 58 to 60 days. The Flavor is all candy, grape and skunk. Solid, compact nuggets are what results from allowing the plants to completely mature. Utilizing a scope at maturity can reveal shockingly purple gland heads,  or trichomes. "The Urk," does enjoy a larger amount of nutrients, displaying  its' Indica heritage in that manner. Outdoors, the buds are very sensitive to moisture, and thus prone to Botrytis, or "Bud Rot." This common  disease decomposes Flowers by a spreading gray mold.        Purple Urkle Cut pictured to the right.

In cooler temperatures, the original Urkle Clone-Only Cut will finish with almost black buds, and similarly colored leaves. Structurally, the plant stays very squat, and is known as a low-yielding genetic on its' own, regardless of growing technique employed. Hence the addition of the approprpritely-named Big Bud from Sensi Seeds, Holland. One of the premier Seedbanks in the world.

The old-school Big Bud strain orignally moved from California to Amsterdam in the 70's after pot prohibition really kicked in with President Richard Nixon's initiation of the War on Drugs. Comprised of "Afghanica" and the ubiquitous "Skunk #1," this plant grows like a weed. Manifesting a bounty of buds, the Indica-dominant Big Bud variety is a commercial strain. Many Growers feel it is a low-flavor genetic, but as a breeding tool, it is indispensable. Sensi Seeds has re-released the seedpack, claiming it is now even better than the original. The flowering time technically is a bit longer than the Purple Urkle, but not prohibitively long.

 Thus, the Big Bud maintains a short flowerting time in the grand Daddy Purple mix, and adds chunkiness to the often-sparse bud structure of the Purple Urkle.

Somehow, the cross is absolute magic. Every color is represented in a well-grown flower. Yellow/gold to red, with lots of purple and green. Rainbow buds that are a real crowd-pleaser. Flavor-wise, the GDP is among the most complete in taste. A touch of classic dank, sweet Aqua-Net hairspray taste from the "Affie," or Afghani, with a bit of merlot wine, and a sweet grape finish. The complete flavor can be very robust and fruity. 

Flowering time for the Grand Daddy Cut is 60-62 days, although most growers harvest them earlier. GDP Pictured to the right.

Felt primarily in the body, the effect of this 75+% Indica is powerful. With such a wonderful flavor, it is easy to overdo it. The user gets a nice, happy, active, hybrid effect. One remains semi-social while under its' influence, unless too much is smoked or eaten. Americans love this sort of high and it is called "Couchlock." But, there is an "enervating" element to the effect. A tingling, happy, buzz that keeps one moving. There are some varieties that are stronger in this way, but One can still feel heavy eyelids if the plants are grown to maturity. For many, GDP  has an almost perfect combination of Couchlock and Stoniness. With a great flavor to match.

Structurally, the Grand Daddy Purps is not squat, not tall. Very easy to grow and trim. The flowers form hard round to oblong nuggets. Which shows the Indica part of the particular phenotype.

Outside of the USA, one rarely encounters pure Grand Daddy Purps flowers, but there are a few variants and knockoffs available in seed form, possessing the purple side of the cross. One well known close relative is the "Mendo Purps," which has been around for decades, and is available in seed form.

In the last few years, a seed-breeder named Ken Estes has released seeds out of The Bay Area of San Francisco/Oakland under the company name The Grand Daddy Purp Collective. Many growers have found good versions of GDP in the seedpacks, but some have reported disappointments.

No other seed companies offer the pure GDP genetic. If one is interested in one of the recent Girl Scout Cookies seed offerings, GDP is a component in the original cutting. As the new "It" strain, there are many Girl Scout Cookie knock-offs, and inauthentic seedpacks available. The GSC is Granddaddy-Dominant.

A seedpack from Ken Estes Grand Daddy Purps Seed Company is moderately priced at about twelve dollars per non-feminized seed. Sixty dollars for a pack of 5.  Herbie's, as well as other well-known seedbanks have them in stock, although they are starting to run out at some seed purchasing websites.

One can easily see why the Grand Daddy Purple Cutting is so popular. Everyone seems to love a Grape flavor in their marijuana. The bag-appeal is off the charts, with solid crystally multi-hued flowers. Very pleasing dankness and fruit odors flow out upon opening a jar of GDP.  

Both components of the Strain, Big Bud and Purple Urkle are complete winners in their own right. Granddaddy Purple is a joy to grow, and can make any good Medical Marijuana Producer proud.

 

----click on images for larger view ----click once again for movable microview

 

 

c Kenneth Aaron / Icysurfer Global Consulting 2014 USA