[~star~crash~]

thanks for all that info ...i can tell you are experienced

i've another question..what do you do about sexing your plants before planting??? this is what i'm looking at thus far all from seed...they been topped hard a week ago



i tried to do some pre-selection in terms of plant structure...obviously for my purposes i'm not wanting to plant males,but i can't hold them in small pots for much longer...any ideas,or strategy for getting those sex's to reveal themselves on the quick?? peace

[iTarzan]

Yes the gypsum takes time to break down the clay but the buffering the ph happens soon. I would cultivate the same holes year after year if they worked well and were never found. I usually avoided clay soil. However, you have to sail your ship in the waters you are in and some growers have nothing but clay soil.

I have spots I have used for 20 years or more.

[MountainBudz]

Honestly a lot is dependent on what type of clay soil you are working with. Red clay? Grey clay? Can you post a picture of the clay? Here in Ky it is well known we have the best natural soil and environment of the entire USA for growing marijuana. Our soil is mostly clay, but lots of good fertile top soil. Close to a foot down is where you hit the most clay and i'd rather have it than not. I have grown in both clay and non clay, some clay is very good. I'd rather have it and it cuts back on watering completely or mostly.

How old are your plants star?

[MountainBudz]

Also I prefer dolomite lime for a quick ph buffer. Always worked amazing for me and most commercial growers around here.

[~star~crash~]

those ones were sprouted around the 1st week of May

[~star~crash~]

Originally Posted by MountainBudz

Also I prefer dolomite lime for a quick ph buffer. Always worked amazing for me and most commercial growers around here.

one handful per hole??

[pipeline]

Yeah lime is just a buffer. About 1/4 cup which is a handful. Only needs a dusting on top.

Thanks for the info mountain buds. I totally agree except for adding fresh sticks, hay, or leaves to soil. Adding uncomposted plant material with a high carbon low nitrogen content will cause a reduction in plant available nitrogen due to microbe activity taking up and immobilizing nitrogen to decompose the material. Just add it on top. In the neighborhood my friend. Love that clay no need to water. Buffered ph. Clay soil is derived from limestone usually here and has a natural ability to buffer. I need to put down compost next spring. I suppose I could top dress with some! I bet the plants wouldn't complain! Yeah put all the uncomposted materials on top as mulch.

Got a little rain today. Whenever the girls adjust from topping, watch out, they're going to bush out fast!

Star-crashed, Not sure what to do about sexing this time of year. I'd just plant them all asap and sex them when its time. Presexing should take place earlier in the year like march april may I think. No experience with forcing. I do know that if the plant is healthy, old enough, and big enough, they will show early preflower signs in July. Is it a claw/ ball, or a tube with a hair? Study and observe carefully....

[MountainBudz]

Originally Posted by pipeline

Yeah lime is just a buffer. About 1/4 cup which is a handful. Only needs a dusting on top.

Thanks for the info mountain buds. I totally agree except for adding fresh sticks, hay, or leaves to soil. Adding uncomposted plant material with a high carbon low nitrogen content will cause a reduction in plant available nitrogen due to microbe activity taking up and immobilizing nitrogen to decompose the material. Just add it on top. In the neighborhood my friend. Love that clay no need to water. Buffered ph. Clay soil is derived from limestone usually here and has a natural ability to buffer. I need to put down compost next spring. I suppose I could top dress with some! I bet the plants wouldn't complain! Yeah put all the uncomposted materials on top as mulch.

Got a little rain today. Whenever the girls adjust from topping, watch out, they're going to bush out fast!

Star-crashed, Not sure what to do about sexing this time of year. I'd just plant them all asap and sex them when its time. Presexing should take place earlier in the year like march april may I think. No experience with forcing. I do know that if the plant is healthy, old enough, and big enough, they will show early preflower signs in July. Is it a claw/ ball, or a tube with a hair? Study and observe carefully....

Dolomite lime is a buffer but also provides a good healthy amount of magnesium and calcium as well for plant immunity and overall health. Yeah Star, about a handful per hole or a wee bit more. Really it depends on how large your holes are. I use those small bathroom cups you get at walmart or grocery store and use anywhere from 2 to 3 per hole.

Pipeline that is definitely good science and I am glad you made your point clear and drawn out. I was aware of the findings of adding fresh uncomposted material to the medium causes a reduction in nitrogen and really did not mean for him to add anything too green or fresh. Although, I will say in my own experience that I have added plenty of fresh uncomposted materials to my grow holes and have never once had an issue, never seen anything close to a nitrogen deficiency... I think this would mostly apply to adding a very large amount of the fresh materials instead of just enough to aerate the soil a bit. Remember Star you do not want to over aerate the soil at all, so too much uncomposted material that would "possibly" cause problems should not be an issue. Add some "Azos" to your holes if you wanna increase nitrogen uptake but be careful cause the shit works almost too well ...

As far as sexing your plants they are around 45 days old and should already be showing sex by now. I hardly ever see one go past 30 days without showing signs of sex. You don't really wanna "force" them at this time of year to show sex, your veg time is precious, try and not confuse it bro.

[MountainBudz]

I also want to make my point clear that I am not saying they should have started "flowering" by now. But with experience and some studying you should definitely be able to tell the sex by now by finding pre-flowers. If you need help let me know. Especially them being that old in those small containers, smaller the hole or container, the faster they show sex, the quicker they finish. You can get a normal 60-70 day outdoor strain to finish in 50-60 day or "up to a week early" by flowering plants in smaller containers especially. You are trading yield for a quicker finish though if you do so... I know your not doing this but just giving ya some knowledge bro!

[Gantz]

i asked a question in the wrong thread