Those of us that grow big plants outdoors know that growing these plants present a whole set of issues that growers of average sized or compact plants don't even consider. This thread is for those that grow big plants to share their knowledge and to provide that knowledge to those who are considering growing big plants. The inexperienced grower has little chance of harvesting these ladies without some insight. The big girls have special needs and i hope we can discuss all of the aspects that growers need to consider.

Every few days, i will pull the thread up and add to it with pics and conversation. Here are the aspects of growing biggies that I consider important. If you feel ive left out items, please add them. Here is what i think needs to be considered;

1. The reasons to grow big girls
2. Genetics- some varieties don't get big
3. Soil, sun, nutes and moisture
4. Growth rates
5. Wind, wieght and supports
6. Pest
7. Disease and Mould
8. Stealth
9. ?? Have i left off anything?

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


Reasons to grow big plants:

Insurance: I started growing big plants for insurance. Insurance against rippers, the law, drought and a number of other calamities that can hit growers. I aim to harvest the 4lbs i need to make sure i don't have to buy any smoke, so no matter what.....

For years, i have planted 4 big plants, in 4 different isolated locations. These plants produce a lb or more. I know its unlikely that rippers or the law will find even one of the plants, and the mathmatecal odds that all 4 would be lost is much less than being struck by lightning.

Drought: I can tend 4 plants no matter what, even if i have to water every day.

The little wienie syndrome: Those with little wienie's like big trucks, big guns and im sure, big plants too.

Beginners: Just as with drought, a newb can manage a couple or 3 plants and have a decent harvest, as opposed to trying to tend numerous plants and harvesting very little. Even one big plant can often out produce many smaller plants.

Legality: Many states in the US provide for a few plants to be legal or a misdemeanor. Big plants will maximize the harvest without the risk.
Contributed by Jiu Jitsu Playa


Genetics:

If you're going to grow big plants, you'll need genes that will produce big plants. You can grow Maple leaf indica, sahdu, Deep chunk, and a 100 other varieties and never have a big harvest. If you want to grow a big plant, you have to select genes that get big. Vigor is required to grow big plants, so these strains not only get big, but they show good vigor as well.

Here are some of the strains that I know of that will get big and show real vigor.


KC33
TNR
Ledo Uno
Mango
Brain damage

Kali mist
NLxBB, Peaks
BBXNL, Dr. Atomic
Jack Herrer

Hollands Hope,Dp
Early Riser, Sag

Himalayan Gold
Great White Shark
Big Bud
Critical Mass
Cream caramel



**Feel free to add any you know of. I will add to this list form time to time..

I shall return

[Jiu Jitsu Playa]

awesome thread SB. in growing big plants you should include legal aspects. I cant stress enough that if your going to grow where its not totally legal you should use premium genetics to grow premium plants. Growing 5 one pounders is 5 plants producing 5 lbs. If you grow a bunch of bagseed say 15 plants youll end up with males and no where near your one pound mark, especially if you dont use ammended soil and our favorite MG... so what im trying to say is growing 5 big plants will get you the same amount of trouble as 5 male plants.
As with everything in life, if your going to do it, do it big.

[THC123]

1. reason : less work , easier , less plants but big yield , pretty

2. frisian dew, nlx , kc33

3.soil : good balanced soil , not too much water (where i live)

4. mold , to grow outdoors here you need a mold resistant strain or it will melt away

5 support them with a frame or risk breaking branches in the wind

eurhn can't think of anything else atm

cheers

[Tirs]

The difference between big plants and small, in my experience not too much but I can sum up the advantages/ disadvantages

-
a pain to trim come the end of the year
harder to inspect for insect and mold damage
more susceptible to mold because of less air movement and bigger buds
can easily exceed your capacity to water them

+
better from a legal perspective
less hole preparation
better use of vertical space

Mutual and depend on your situation:
camo, height can be an issue with monsters but small plants occupy more ground area and are more spread out and numerous
getting ripped or animal damage, monsters will take a lot more abuse before they die but losing one is a much more substantial loss

In short my advice would be don't hedge your bets on one monster only grow this way if you can do a few and make sure you can water them. That one really stands out to me from personal experience, the big girls can drink a lot under the summer sun and they will let you know it too.

[grimcreeper]

Is topping or tying down used in the process of growing a huge plant?

[Tirs]

It can be training a large plant results in something that resembles a hedge, untopped a large plant looks more like a christmas tree. In the spirit of this thread I have to post a picture from the master of huge plants Tom Hill.

[Lucky 7]

I have found the White Widow,
NL X Shiva, Blue Mystic,
& Cinderella 99 all do well outdoors.

Experience has taught me NOT to TOP until these plants are good sized. Topping
too early produces thin stems that will not support your Big Girl.

You'll prolly still have to stake up, but nearly so much . . . The main pest threat for me are corn borers, a type of burrowing worm. Ugh!

EXCELLENT input by all !!! I had hoped the big growers would come out and i see they are.

Good info JJP, i added it
THC123, aint it the truth
Tirs, there are a lot of differences and youve mentioned a few.
It can be grim reaper. I have some biggies tied down as i write and in the stealth discussion i'll post them. Yes is the answer to your question and especailly where wind is a factor. One windy day can ruin a beautiful big plant. Take her down, out of the wind and support her weight.

As you suggest Lucky7 topping a really vigorous, big plant can be problematic. It can bulk up some plants and make them difficult to conceal and in some cases, increase the mould potential.

[fisher15]

I like to grow big plants. Firstly, because we are allowed to have six each, with a reccomendation. In my experience, big plants produce bigger, better overall buds than small plants, and because of that I say it's easier to trim big plants than small. I think root space is key if you want to grow big ones. Mine are in 300 gallon planters and they'll still be limited in growth. Should get some decent yields as some are 6'-7' high and 5' wide already. As it's been mentioned, it's important to give support to big plants so branches don't break later in the season. I like to surround the plants from the start in 8' 'cages' made of field fence. The branches then grow through the cage which will support it and also help in bushing it out.

My biggest plants have been sativa dominate hybrids. Something that grows fast, produces heavy buds, and finishes by November. I'm running more than a few strains, and those that are the biggest/show the most vigor are: Casey jones, coral reef, snowcap, la Nina, amnesia haze, goo, chem3. It's still only June though, so I'll have to update the list after the season.

Intensity of the sun and amount of direct hours on the garden is also very imortant. I live in a popular mj growing area, and that's partially because of the great weather we get. Hot and dry all summer with very few clouds/storms...all sun all the time. Of course you need to have plenty of water on hand to quench a big girl's thirst. In the height of flowering, they can suck 10, 15 gallons a day easy. I'm in the process of setting up a drip system, as it's still early and watering is already getting out of hand... Back to work, another good thread SB.

Ps heard Ledo uno get unruly too, ever grown it?

[Lucky 7]

Mine are in 300 gallon planters and they'll still be limited in growth.

Hot Damn, that's what I'm talkin about! lmao

Obviously this isn't fisher15's first grow . . . . how much we talkin off one lady here? And just what does a 300 gal container look like - no, I wont' go there . . . .

I've tried White Rhino outdoors, but it got really stretchy & weird. Then I read that some plants just like containers - they don't care to be stuck in the soil. So this year I'm trying two Rhino females, each in two gallon containers.

If I could get a few ounces of this good indica I'd be pleased.

I now dust my plants with Dipel. Very few stem burrowing, bud infected worms!

If you're concerned about stealth as I am, the fat bushy lady will blend well in Oct with indigenous weeds, all except the last few weeks of course.