chief bigsmoke
Active member
Thanks bro! that's exactly the info we needed... appreciated
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Chief Bigsmoke's Fantasy Factory
- Thread starter chief bigsmoke
- Start date
Thanks bro! that's exactly the info we needed... appreciated
chief bigsmoke
Active member
Welcome back kw31! I appreciate you stopping by just as much.
chief bigsmoke
Active member
Daily Lesson - Nitrogen fixing
Daily Lesson - Nitrogen fixing
So I mentioned quickly that I use white clover to "fix my nitrogen" but what the heck does that mean? is it broken... no.
Here is a brief description of the natural nitrogen cycle:
Please note: the following is 100% not my words. http://www.backyardnature.net/econitro.htm
Living things absolutely need the chemical element known as nitrogen. This is easy to believe when we remember that an atom of nitrogen lies at the heart of all amino acids, which are not only the building blocks of protein, of which muscles and many other of the body's parts are made, but also the basic constituent of DNA, which carries the genetic code for all living things. Nitrogen atoms must also be present in molecules of ADP and ATP, which enable energy transfer during photosynthesis. Obviously, without nitrogen, life as we know it on Earth is simply impossible!
A POINT TO CONSIDER
The image at the right is a much-magnified section of the roots of the clover in the above photo. The brown, baglike things hanging on the larger roots are nitrogen-fixing nodules. Probably 99% of the readers of these words can find such nodules on plants in their own backyards! When I think what an important job the little clover with its nitrogen-fixing nodules was doing for me and the rest of the ecosystem, I feel a little guilty for having dug the plant up. However, it's important that you know about this, and know that so many things in nature that you haven't learned of yet are just as important... USABLE NITROGEN, STEP BY STEP
Daily Lesson - Nitrogen fixing
So I mentioned quickly that I use white clover to "fix my nitrogen" but what the heck does that mean? is it broken... no.
Here is a brief description of the natural nitrogen cycle:Please note: the following is 100% not my words. http://www.backyardnature.net/econitro.htm
THE NITROGEN CYCLE
& Nature's Interconnectedness
& Nature's Interconnectedness
Though about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen, plants and animals don't necessarily have an easy time getting all the nitrogen they need. The problem is that green plants can't use the nitrogen that's free in the atmosphere. Some chemistry must be done on every molecule of free nitrogen before it becomes useful to most living things.
NITROGEN FIXATIONThe process of chemically altering unusable, free atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by organisms is referred to as nitrogen fixation. In nature, there are two main ways of "fixing" nitrogen:
FIRST WAY: Lightning. If you've ever been close to a lightning flash and right afterwards smelled an ammonia-like odor, that was lightning-fixed nitrogen you smelled. Only a relatively small percentage of nitrogen gets fixed in this way, however. Nature's main nitrogen fixers are...
SECOND WAY: Special microorganisms living mostly in soil and water.
It's worthwhile to pause a moment here and reflect on the fact that what's being said is this:
Life on Earth depends on nitrogen-fixing microorganisms -- creatures we can't see without a microscope -- living in soil and water.
When you consider how humankind pollutes the Earth's soil and water with pesticides and other chemicals, sterilizes soil with slash-and-burn agriculture in much of the world's tropics, and allows agricultural soil to erode into our rivers much faster than it can be formed, you wonder why there's so little concern being expressed.
Nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, existing abundantly but practically invisibly nearly everywhere, include a few forms of bacteria, the blue-green algae, and some fungi. Some nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in nodules, or small, bag-like growths on the roots of certain plants, especially members of the Bean Family.
NITROGEN-FIXING NODULES ON BACKYARD CLOVERIn many backyards, nodules can be seen on the fine, wiry roots of clover, a member of the Bean Family, and considered a weed by those who don't know its importance.
Right now I push myself away from the keyboard, step from my front door and not a yard from my door instantly spot several little clover plants. I dig up one of them -- it's White Clover, Trifolium repens -- place it on my scanner, and the image that results is the one appearing at the top of this page.
Typically, nitrogen-fixing microorganisms do not fix free atmospheric nitrogen to a usable form in one step. Usually one set of organisms converts free nitrogen (N[SIZE=-1]2[/SIZE]) to ammonia (NH[SIZE=- 1]3[/size]). This ammonia is accompanied by its ammonium ion (NH[SIZE=-1]4[/SIZE]+), which some plants can use. However, most flowering plants need nitrogen in yet another form, which microorganisms provide by converting the ammonia to usable nitrate (NO[SIZE=-1]3[/SIZE]-).
Already you see that various organisms must work together to accomplish this profoundly important job. However, it's even more complex than what's described above! The process of converting ammonia to nitrate, called nitrification, is usually accomplished by two different sets of bacteria working one after the other. If you want to take a real mind-trip, take a look at our generalized outline of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle.
POINTS TO PONDERBut, we don't want to get bogged down here. The main thing to keep in mind is that in average soil there are many billions of organisms of many different kinds working together to do a job that life on Earth depends on...
As you might expect, we humans are currently throwing the Earth-wide nitrogen cycle out of whack. You can read all about it on the Web, in an essay called Human Alteration of the Global Nitrogen Cycle: Causes and Consequences.
The point of all these words about nitrogen is not to convince you that nitrogen is wonderful stuff, though it is. The point is that nature is composed of a huge number of interrelated parts, and nitrogen with all of its jobs is just one tiny, usually ignored part. It's good to keep these insights in mind not only for the pleasure we feel when thinking about them, but also because of this:
When we dump toxic chemicals (insecticides and oil pollution,
for instance) into the Earth's air, water, and soil,
we are upsetting untold numbers of life-enabling processes
by killing outrageous numbers of organisms
that are profoundly important to the continuance ofLife on Earth.
for instance) into the Earth's air, water, and soil,
we are upsetting untold numbers of life-enabling processes
by killing outrageous numbers of organisms
that are profoundly important to the continuance ofLife on Earth.
Chief: Here's a thought provoking idea= I wonder if you could replicate a high voltage surge to blast your soil before you use it?... not the most economical way to release nitrogen... just a fun thought. The fantasy factory is all about the real and the mystery...
chief bigsmoke
Active member
Plant emotions and senses - posted by MGD
Plant emotions and senses - posted by MGD
This post was originally posted by
MissGreenDreamz
deadicated medicator (~)
She linked it to this page earlier but it wasn't getting the traffic it deserved So I've reposted it here. Please feel free to go to the original link and send MGD the rep she deserves. plus she is a bad ass grower who has taken things like a living mulch to the whole next level. She's definitely one to watch out for... https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=202912
Plants ~ Their Emotions and Senses!
Photo: brewbooks
What is ‘sentience’? When a person or animal is injured they react by experiencing pain, marshalling the body’s defense systems to repair the damage and begin the process of recovery. The question, surely, is whether we know enough about sentience to be quite certain that plant life does not have it.
Every ecologist out there, and even amateur gardeners, have been known to swear that plants, too, ‘feel’ things, but it is only recent research that has demonstrated just how ‘intelligent’ they really are. Plant life has a heritage far older than mankind, and in some respects, it makes we humans seem inadequate! Is it not about time to take more notice?
It is now known that plants have, admittedly in different forms, the same innate abilities as those with which animals and humans make sense of their environment. They see, smell, taste, feel and even listen to their surroundings. Even as seeds, ready to germinate, it’s been proven that they are sensitive to as many as twenty different factors – like the season of the year and where the light is coming from – information they need to decide the right time to start growing!
A truly remarkable ability to ‘smell’ their surroundings is vital for all plants. Even seeds can detect chemical components of smoke which prompt them to germinate – a natural way of replacing flora lost to forest fires, for example. Trees have defence mechanisms built around this ability. When one tree is attacked by pests, it emits chemical signals to nieghbouring trees, encouraging them to produce chemical deterrents to that pest, ensuring their own safety.
Photo: LotusR
Dutch scientist Marcel Dicke, of the Agricultural University in Wageningen, Holland, found evidence that all plants perform similar actions to the trees, when under threat from predators. Indeed, the level of sophistication in this process is made all the more remarkable by the fact that the these ‘signals’ encourage production of substances tailored to specific pests!
An example of this would be the lima bean. When attacked by spider mites, the plant releases a chemical attractant for other types of mite, which prey on the attackers. Some plants help others, as in the case of cabbages, which release foul smelling isothiocyanates, discouraging aphids from attacking neighbouring plants like broad beans.
Photo: davetaster
Research has also shown that plants actually ‘time’ the release of defensive chemicals, to correspond with the hours of the day when predators are most active. US Department of Agriculture studies in Gainesville, Florida, showed that maize and cotton plants, damaged by certain pests, increased output of chemical ‘help’ signals to pest-killing wasps at the time of day when the wasps are most active.
Do plants really know when something touches them? If you stroke the leaves of a mimosa plant, they react by closing up at once. Research has shown that in 17 different families of plant, over 1,000 varieties are very sensitive to touch – possibly an ancient inheritance from bacteria, which are known to be the ancestors of all plant life, responding to stimuli with minute electrical impulses.
Photo: bimurch
The best known ‘touch sensitive’ plants are predators, like the Venus Fly-trap, but this sensitivity is, in some respects, common to all types of plant life, albeit in slower, less immediately noticeable ways. American research, by Professor Mordecai Jaffe in North Carolina, has shown that simply touching and stroking a plant stem, for a few seconds each day, will encourage a thickening of the stem.
Photo: kadavoor
The plant reacts as if it is being subjected to strong winds, and takes appropriate defensive measures. This reaction is used in Japan to ensure strong canes of sugar beet, by striking young plants with broom handles before transplanting them. Amateur gardeners can benefit, too, by stroking young seedlings before planting them out.
It was in the early years of the last decade that two British scientists, Norman Biddington and Tony Dearman, conducted tests in Warwickshire, proving that stroking young plants with bits of paper actually helped them to combat the effects of both drought and frost, when planted in the outside environment.
Professor Jaffe says, laughing, that one would have to talk to one's plants for weeks before noticing any results, but there is no doubt that plants are very sensitive to sound. They respond best to noises just outside the volume of the human voice, at 70 to 80 decibels. If subjected to regular bursts of sound at this level, some plants can actually double their rate of growth, and some seeds will germinate as much as 80 to 90% faster.
The most amazing thing about plants is their ability to ‘see’. So sensitive to light are they that even the colour of their surroundings can affect their growth and taste! A molecular biologist at Glasgow University, Gareth Jenkins, ran tests proving that proteins within plant cells – called cryptochromes and phytochromes – are extremely light sensitive. So much so, that their ‘sight’ encompasses wavelengths well beyond the range of human vision.
The plants sense also the direction of the light source, and when the Sun comes up, enhance production of the colourless pigments – quercetin and kaempferol – which help screen them from the more harmful effects of sunlight. Remarkably, the work of Michael J Kasperbauer, US plant physiologist – he’s spent thirty years researching light sensitivity in plants – is causing a real stir among the farming communities.
Photo: janlupus
Kasperbauer found that the phytochrome protein is colour sensitive to a degree possibly far beyond that of animals and humans. So much so, that the minute variations in the wavelengths of different colours can make a big difference to plant yields.
In more recent times, many growers plant crops atop great swathes of black plastic sheeting – to retain moisture, discourage weeds and insulate young roots. This has the beneficial effects of reducing the waxiness of plant leaves – thus helping them to retain water more easily, and encouraging the plant to develop resistance to pests.
The professor showed that changing the colour of the sheeting really can improve both quantity and quality of yield, and even affect the flavour! The secret lies in the fact that the phytochromes in the plants are especially sensitive to the red and ‘far red’ wavelengths.
If they detect these, they signal that the plant must grow faster and stronger – competing for space because the light makes them respond as if they are hemmed in by other plants, competing for the nutrients. To improve their own chances of dispersing seed for the next generation, they grow taller, and develop more fruit. The tests showed that yields increased by between 20 and 50% when red sheeting was used instead of black.
Kasperbauer even showed that different coloured sheetings can actually affect the taste of the crop. Turnips were grown on blue, white and green sheeting, and testers reported that the resultant vegetables tasted ‘sharp’, ‘bland’ or ‘almost sweet’ according to the colour. It would seem that the right approach to the planting of crops, in colour terms, could be of enormous benefit to humanity.
It is now believed that plants have an ability to ‘taste’ their surroundings. Research at the Institute of Arable Crops, in Hertfordshire, England, has revealed a particular gene in plants, which enables root systems to taste the surrounding soil – moving in the direction of the richest sources of nutrition and ammonia, which they need for ‘fixing’ nitrogen. This taste ability is also used in self defence. When a plant ‘tastes’ the secretions of a parasite, it immediately begins to produce defensive substances.
Prince Charles, heir to the English throne, has long been an outspoken supporter of organic farming methods, and indeed studies have shown – particularly in third world countries – that far less use of pesticides leads not only to healthier and more nutritious crops, but in many cases to a large improvement in the crop yields that such farming produces. It now seems abundantly clear that, in centuries past, when farmers had no choice but the organic route, sustainable growing areas were much easier to retain over long periods
There is no doubt that plants are far more adaptable than people might ever have believed, nor that they are well equipped to deal with the difficulties that nature might place before them. They have superb defensive mechanisms, respond positively to the right stimuli, and will, if treated properly, yield food and pleasure in great quantities. If sentience were to be measured by the ability to react to the outside world, then surely they would have to qualify?
As professor Anthony Trewavas, of Edinburgh University, put it: ‘Plants are not as stupid as people think……in fact, in some ways their intelligence exceeds that of humans.’ Perhaps, one day, we will be able to fully comprehend the ways in which plants communicate, and even open up dialogue with them. In the meantime, it would be in our own best interests to remember that plants, like ourselves, really do have ‘feelings’, and that we should give them the respect they truly deserve.
© Leather 2005
Plant emotions and senses - posted by MGD
This post was originally posted by
MissGreenDreamz
deadicated medicator (~)
She linked it to this page earlier but it wasn't getting the traffic it deserved So I've reposted it here. Please feel free to go to the original link and send MGD the rep she deserves. plus she is a bad ass grower who has taken things like a living mulch to the whole next level. She's definitely one to watch out for... https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=202912
Plants ~ Their Emotions and Senses!
What is ‘sentience’? When a person or animal is injured they react by experiencing pain, marshalling the body’s defense systems to repair the damage and begin the process of recovery. The question, surely, is whether we know enough about sentience to be quite certain that plant life does not have it.
Every ecologist out there, and even amateur gardeners, have been known to swear that plants, too, ‘feel’ things, but it is only recent research that has demonstrated just how ‘intelligent’ they really are. Plant life has a heritage far older than mankind, and in some respects, it makes we humans seem inadequate! Is it not about time to take more notice?
It is now known that plants have, admittedly in different forms, the same innate abilities as those with which animals and humans make sense of their environment. They see, smell, taste, feel and even listen to their surroundings. Even as seeds, ready to germinate, it’s been proven that they are sensitive to as many as twenty different factors – like the season of the year and where the light is coming from – information they need to decide the right time to start growing!
A truly remarkable ability to ‘smell’ their surroundings is vital for all plants. Even seeds can detect chemical components of smoke which prompt them to germinate – a natural way of replacing flora lost to forest fires, for example. Trees have defence mechanisms built around this ability. When one tree is attacked by pests, it emits chemical signals to nieghbouring trees, encouraging them to produce chemical deterrents to that pest, ensuring their own safety.
Dutch scientist Marcel Dicke, of the Agricultural University in Wageningen, Holland, found evidence that all plants perform similar actions to the trees, when under threat from predators. Indeed, the level of sophistication in this process is made all the more remarkable by the fact that the these ‘signals’ encourage production of substances tailored to specific pests!
An example of this would be the lima bean. When attacked by spider mites, the plant releases a chemical attractant for other types of mite, which prey on the attackers. Some plants help others, as in the case of cabbages, which release foul smelling isothiocyanates, discouraging aphids from attacking neighbouring plants like broad beans.
Research has also shown that plants actually ‘time’ the release of defensive chemicals, to correspond with the hours of the day when predators are most active. US Department of Agriculture studies in Gainesville, Florida, showed that maize and cotton plants, damaged by certain pests, increased output of chemical ‘help’ signals to pest-killing wasps at the time of day when the wasps are most active.
Do plants really know when something touches them? If you stroke the leaves of a mimosa plant, they react by closing up at once. Research has shown that in 17 different families of plant, over 1,000 varieties are very sensitive to touch – possibly an ancient inheritance from bacteria, which are known to be the ancestors of all plant life, responding to stimuli with minute electrical impulses.
The best known ‘touch sensitive’ plants are predators, like the Venus Fly-trap, but this sensitivity is, in some respects, common to all types of plant life, albeit in slower, less immediately noticeable ways. American research, by Professor Mordecai Jaffe in North Carolina, has shown that simply touching and stroking a plant stem, for a few seconds each day, will encourage a thickening of the stem.
The plant reacts as if it is being subjected to strong winds, and takes appropriate defensive measures. This reaction is used in Japan to ensure strong canes of sugar beet, by striking young plants with broom handles before transplanting them. Amateur gardeners can benefit, too, by stroking young seedlings before planting them out.
It was in the early years of the last decade that two British scientists, Norman Biddington and Tony Dearman, conducted tests in Warwickshire, proving that stroking young plants with bits of paper actually helped them to combat the effects of both drought and frost, when planted in the outside environment.
Professor Jaffe says, laughing, that one would have to talk to one's plants for weeks before noticing any results, but there is no doubt that plants are very sensitive to sound. They respond best to noises just outside the volume of the human voice, at 70 to 80 decibels. If subjected to regular bursts of sound at this level, some plants can actually double their rate of growth, and some seeds will germinate as much as 80 to 90% faster.
The most amazing thing about plants is their ability to ‘see’. So sensitive to light are they that even the colour of their surroundings can affect their growth and taste! A molecular biologist at Glasgow University, Gareth Jenkins, ran tests proving that proteins within plant cells – called cryptochromes and phytochromes – are extremely light sensitive. So much so, that their ‘sight’ encompasses wavelengths well beyond the range of human vision.
The plants sense also the direction of the light source, and when the Sun comes up, enhance production of the colourless pigments – quercetin and kaempferol – which help screen them from the more harmful effects of sunlight. Remarkably, the work of Michael J Kasperbauer, US plant physiologist – he’s spent thirty years researching light sensitivity in plants – is causing a real stir among the farming communities.
Kasperbauer found that the phytochrome protein is colour sensitive to a degree possibly far beyond that of animals and humans. So much so, that the minute variations in the wavelengths of different colours can make a big difference to plant yields.
In more recent times, many growers plant crops atop great swathes of black plastic sheeting – to retain moisture, discourage weeds and insulate young roots. This has the beneficial effects of reducing the waxiness of plant leaves – thus helping them to retain water more easily, and encouraging the plant to develop resistance to pests.
The professor showed that changing the colour of the sheeting really can improve both quantity and quality of yield, and even affect the flavour! The secret lies in the fact that the phytochromes in the plants are especially sensitive to the red and ‘far red’ wavelengths.
If they detect these, they signal that the plant must grow faster and stronger – competing for space because the light makes them respond as if they are hemmed in by other plants, competing for the nutrients. To improve their own chances of dispersing seed for the next generation, they grow taller, and develop more fruit. The tests showed that yields increased by between 20 and 50% when red sheeting was used instead of black.
Kasperbauer even showed that different coloured sheetings can actually affect the taste of the crop. Turnips were grown on blue, white and green sheeting, and testers reported that the resultant vegetables tasted ‘sharp’, ‘bland’ or ‘almost sweet’ according to the colour. It would seem that the right approach to the planting of crops, in colour terms, could be of enormous benefit to humanity.
It is now believed that plants have an ability to ‘taste’ their surroundings. Research at the Institute of Arable Crops, in Hertfordshire, England, has revealed a particular gene in plants, which enables root systems to taste the surrounding soil – moving in the direction of the richest sources of nutrition and ammonia, which they need for ‘fixing’ nitrogen. This taste ability is also used in self defence. When a plant ‘tastes’ the secretions of a parasite, it immediately begins to produce defensive substances.
Prince Charles, heir to the English throne, has long been an outspoken supporter of organic farming methods, and indeed studies have shown – particularly in third world countries – that far less use of pesticides leads not only to healthier and more nutritious crops, but in many cases to a large improvement in the crop yields that such farming produces. It now seems abundantly clear that, in centuries past, when farmers had no choice but the organic route, sustainable growing areas were much easier to retain over long periods
There is no doubt that plants are far more adaptable than people might ever have believed, nor that they are well equipped to deal with the difficulties that nature might place before them. They have superb defensive mechanisms, respond positively to the right stimuli, and will, if treated properly, yield food and pleasure in great quantities. If sentience were to be measured by the ability to react to the outside world, then surely they would have to qualify?
As professor Anthony Trewavas, of Edinburgh University, put it: ‘Plants are not as stupid as people think……in fact, in some ways their intelligence exceeds that of humans.’ Perhaps, one day, we will be able to fully comprehend the ways in which plants communicate, and even open up dialogue with them. In the meantime, it would be in our own best interests to remember that plants, like ourselves, really do have ‘feelings’, and that we should give them the respect they truly deserve.
© Leather 2005
chief bigsmoke
Active member
Lunar phases and growing plants
Lunar phases and growing plants
HO HO HO Everybody...
I hope all of you are enjoying the first couple days of December. We have just entered into the First Quarter of our lunar cycle. When the moon is growing it is referred to as "waxing" and when its shrinkning it is called "waning". Ancient gardeners have used the earths lunar cycle to their advantage for thousands of years. Even indoor growers can take advantage of these lunar phases.
Greenmans page broke it down best:
It is Waning - shrinking - during these phases: Full Moon | Disseminating | Second Quarter | Balsamic
As a general rule of thumb when the Moon is waxing, plants develop leaves and above ground systems, when it is waning plants develop their root systems. Planting leafy crops such as cannabis that grow above ground are best sown at waxing moon and those that will require strong root systems or grow below ground should be sown after full moon, in the waning phase.
We can now divide these phases into four quarters.
New Moon to First quarter
First quarter to Full Moon
Waxing Full Moon to Second quarter
Second quarter to New Moon again. - Waning
These 4 phases can be useful to apply the rule of thumb Plant | Feed Harvest|Destroy If you get these 4 main quarters fixed, you will go a long way to understanding cycles.
The 4 intermediate phases also form a quaternary of activity.
Crescent
Gibbous
Disseminating
Balsamic
Crescent moon phase is when the best germination occurs and is a good time for thinning out seedlings to give room for the rapid growth that occurs at the next phase. Gibbous moon phase is when there is a greater uptake of nutrients from the soil, and swelling of fruits. Disseminating moon is an excellent time for seed setting and ripening. Balsamic phase is the best time for destroying weeds, pruning trees, and all preparation for the next cycle.
It is important to note that you should not do any gardening task at the exact time of a phase. Wait a few hours. Each of the exact phase positions marks a critical time as the moon makes a shift from one phase to the next.
Because the Sun stays in a sign for a full month there are some months that are better for certain gardening tasks than others. Interfacing the Sun cycle and the Moon's cycle takes a little skill but is not 1 difficult once you apply the logic.
If the Sun is in a 'fertile' sign for a month, then you should take advantage of that month to do some gardening - naturally the best results occur when the Moon is also is a fertile sign and the correct phase with the Sun. The best days for doing specific tasks will depend on the Moon's sign. To synthesize the phase with the sign is important in planting. There is no point in planting at the correct phase, if the Moon is in an incompatible sign - one which might damage or inhibit growth.
Remember the Sun stays in a sign for approximately a month, the Moon passes through all 12 signs in a month, so stays in a sign for approximately 2 and a half days. A new moon always occurs when the Sun and Moon are in the same sign. A full moon occurs when the Moon is in the opposite sign to the Sun.
http://www.greenmanspage.com/guides/moon.html
Lunar phases and growing plants
HO HO HO Everybody...
I hope all of you are enjoying the first couple days of December. We have just entered into the First Quarter of our lunar cycle. When the moon is growing it is referred to as "waxing" and when its shrinkning it is called "waning". Ancient gardeners have used the earths lunar cycle to their advantage for thousands of years. Even indoor growers can take advantage of these lunar phases.
Greenmans page broke it down best:
It is Waning - shrinking - during these phases: Full Moon | Disseminating | Second Quarter | Balsamic
As a general rule of thumb when the Moon is waxing, plants develop leaves and above ground systems, when it is waning plants develop their root systems. Planting leafy crops such as cannabis that grow above ground are best sown at waxing moon and those that will require strong root systems or grow below ground should be sown after full moon, in the waning phase.
We can now divide these phases into four quarters.
New Moon to First quarter
First quarter to Full Moon
Waxing Full Moon to Second quarter
Second quarter to New Moon again. - Waning
These 4 phases can be useful to apply the rule of thumb Plant | Feed Harvest|Destroy If you get these 4 main quarters fixed, you will go a long way to understanding cycles.
The 4 intermediate phases also form a quaternary of activity.
Crescent
Gibbous
Disseminating
Balsamic
Crescent moon phase is when the best germination occurs and is a good time for thinning out seedlings to give room for the rapid growth that occurs at the next phase. Gibbous moon phase is when there is a greater uptake of nutrients from the soil, and swelling of fruits. Disseminating moon is an excellent time for seed setting and ripening. Balsamic phase is the best time for destroying weeds, pruning trees, and all preparation for the next cycle.
It is important to note that you should not do any gardening task at the exact time of a phase. Wait a few hours. Each of the exact phase positions marks a critical time as the moon makes a shift from one phase to the next.
Because the Sun stays in a sign for a full month there are some months that are better for certain gardening tasks than others. Interfacing the Sun cycle and the Moon's cycle takes a little skill but is not 1 difficult once you apply the logic.
If the Sun is in a 'fertile' sign for a month, then you should take advantage of that month to do some gardening - naturally the best results occur when the Moon is also is a fertile sign and the correct phase with the Sun. The best days for doing specific tasks will depend on the Moon's sign. To synthesize the phase with the sign is important in planting. There is no point in planting at the correct phase, if the Moon is in an incompatible sign - one which might damage or inhibit growth.
Remember the Sun stays in a sign for approximately a month, the Moon passes through all 12 signs in a month, so stays in a sign for approximately 2 and a half days. A new moon always occurs when the Sun and Moon are in the same sign. A full moon occurs when the Moon is in the opposite sign to the Sun.
http://www.greenmanspage.com/guides/moon.html
chief bigsmoke
Active member
Yeah I heard your partying like a "rockstar" nowadays. That sounds like a winning cut bro.
Lets go for a shred soon...
chief bigsmoke
Active member
Extra reading material - free downloads
Extra reading material - free downloads
This was an incredible post by Dizzlekush. with his blessing am a able to share it here for the rest of your to take advantage of.
Please go to his original post and give him the rep he deserves and make sure you buy the books or support the authors when you are able to repay their hardwork. https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=226274
Free books to download about Cannabis Sativa and Cannabinoids
here's some great books that people can download for free. they're pretty big so it should be a good read for anyone who's interested.
Biology of Marijuana (649 pages)
Edited by Emmanuel S. Onaivi
http://www.hampapartiet.se/05.pdf
ENDOCANNABINOIDS - The Brain and Body’s Marijuana and Beyond (583 pages)
Edited by Emmanuel S. Onaivi & Takayuki Sugiura & Vincenzo Di Marzo
http://www.hampapartiet.se/10.pdf
Marijuana and the Cannabinoids (333 pages)
Edited by Mahmoud A. ElSohly, PhD
http://www.hampapartiet.se/09.pdf
Marijuana Botany - An Advanced Study: The Propagation and Breeding of Distinctive Cannabis (116 pages)
Robert Connell Clarke
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...yAH38Ro-Eh9FUw
The Emperor Wears No Clothes (181 pages)
Jack Herer
http://www.hampapartiet.se/25.pdf
THE PROPAGATION, CHARACTERISATION AND OPTIMISATION OF CANNABIS SATIVA L AS A PHYTOPHARMACEUTICAL (225 pages)
David Potter
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...658MA9I0Q_D51A
Enjoy and respect to the authors.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=4804501
Extra reading material - free downloads
This was an incredible post by Dizzlekush. with his blessing am a able to share it here for the rest of your to take advantage of.
Please go to his original post and give him the rep he deserves and make sure you buy the books or support the authors when you are able to repay their hardwork. https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=226274
Free books to download about Cannabis Sativa and Cannabinoids
here's some great books that people can download for free. they're pretty big so it should be a good read for anyone who's interested.
Biology of Marijuana (649 pages)
Edited by Emmanuel S. Onaivi
http://www.hampapartiet.se/05.pdf
ENDOCANNABINOIDS - The Brain and Body’s Marijuana and Beyond (583 pages)
Edited by Emmanuel S. Onaivi & Takayuki Sugiura & Vincenzo Di Marzo
http://www.hampapartiet.se/10.pdf
Marijuana and the Cannabinoids (333 pages)
Edited by Mahmoud A. ElSohly, PhD
http://www.hampapartiet.se/09.pdf
Marijuana Botany - An Advanced Study: The Propagation and Breeding of Distinctive Cannabis (116 pages)
Robert Connell Clarke
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...yAH38Ro-Eh9FUw
The Emperor Wears No Clothes (181 pages)
Jack Herer
http://www.hampapartiet.se/25.pdf
THE PROPAGATION, CHARACTERISATION AND OPTIMISATION OF CANNABIS SATIVA L AS A PHYTOPHARMACEUTICAL (225 pages)
David Potter
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...658MA9I0Q_D51A
Enjoy and respect to the authors.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=4804501
chief bigsmoke
Active member
Tha Cannabinoid system + List of benefits everyone must read!
Tha Cannabinoid system + List of benefits everyone must read!
The Cannabinoid System
Dr. Robert J. Melamede Ph.D. Chairman of the Biology Department of the University of Colorado:
Conducting Scientific research on Cannabinoids
The Cannabinoid System has been around for over 600 million years. Before the Dinosaurs. The Cannabinoid System is continuously evolutioning and has been retained by all new species. Food and feeding is at the heart of the Cannabinoid System.
1. Cannabinoids are in every living animal on the planet above Hydra and Mollusks, with the exception of insects. Bodies are homeostatically maintained by the Cannabinoid System.
2. Mothers give their babies a booster shot of cannabinoids in mothers milk to give them the munchies because they have to learn to eat. (they've been fed thru the umbilical cord and did not have to know how to eat.)
3. Mice lacking the CB1 receptors don't like any changes. If they are moved to another part of the cage they act upset and when they are put back to the original spot in the cage they relax, but if then put into another part of the cage they get upset again. Comment: I wonder if people, especially drug warriors, had their CB1 receptors blocked then they would resist change and the ones of us that have unblocked CB1 receptors enjoy the benefits of cannabinoids are a lot more relaxed and not paranoid about or over change. Interesting thought. It turns out that that thought is absolutely correct. Many people' brains are not capable of a good connection to the CB1 CB2 receptors.
4. All new species utilize cannabinoids.
5. By being alive and breathing air our bodies produce "free radicals". Cannabinoids help to reverse this action.
6. Cannabinoids do kill brain cells, but the brain cells they kill are called "Glioma" or Cancer of the brain (Tumor). All other brain cells are protected and healed by cannabinoids. (Glioma cells cannot tolerate the action of cannabinoids)
7. Cannabinoids protect against sunburn and skin cancer because of the CB1 receptors in our skin.
8. Cannabinoids slow down the aging process. Mice that their brains respond to cannabinoids live longer and mice that have brains that block the CB1 receptors die younger.
9. Activity in the evolutionary advanced areas of the brain is increased in cannabinoids receptors and promotes higher consciousness levels.
10. Cannabinoids are even found in the white blood cells (CB2 receptors). The CB2 receptors are found predominantly on immunological cells and regulate the shift in the immune system to the anti-inflammatory mode.
11. Cannabinoids protect the heart against Arythmia.
12. * one of my favorites: The way it works on pain is there is specific nerves that deal with pain. They are called vanilloid-Receptors. Anandamide (sanscript word for "Blissful Amide"), the bodies internally produced marijuana binds with the nerve endings, reducing pain. Anandamides are produced internally by our bodies in response to a whole variety of conditions. As an example, Aspirin prevents the breakdown of Anandamide, the internally produced marijuana to activate & start working at easing pain. How many old lady's say they "WOULD NEVER" use marijuana & are actually using the equivalent of marijuana that their bodies produce as a natural activity, & don't even realize it. And how many politicians and citizens of the US do this also & aren't even aware they are condemning something that their bodies make naturally. Anecdotal evidence is valid because when a person smokes marijuana & it relieves their pain, then they smoke it again & it relieves their pain again it becomes a fact known only to that person, but nonetheless true.
13. In the case of most autoimmune diseases, the bodies immune cells produces free radicals & is destroying it's own body as a foreign object. Cannabis pushes the immune system into anti inflammatory mode & helps slow the progression of that disease, thereby slowing down the aging process.
14. Seizures are controlled by marijuana not only THC, but non-psychoactive cannabidiol.(CBD) The exact mechanism is not known, however HEMP is high in CBD's & can cancel out the psychoactive high of THC & at the same time benefits the user or smoker. Cannabinoids control everything in our bodies including our minds.
15. There are many other things that Cannabinoids do in the body, besides attaching to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, the main cannabinoid receptors in the higher part of our brain. Cannabinoids affect our skin and other parts of our bodies.
16. Pharmaceutical companies are working at sythesizing different cannabinoid components and different types of strains of marijuana. If they can succeed, then there will be more choices for you and I to choose from and we will be able to use what works best for our particular bodies.
17. The natural course for mankind, because of the location of our CB1 CB2 the brains main receptors, is to be more stoned.
18. Drug warriors are not doing what they are doing to us because they are intentionally evil, but because they are more primitive (obtuse comes to mind). They look at the world with fear and hostility not cooperativity and understanding.
19. According to a brain function study of 150 depressed people Cannabis protects the brain against healthy cell death and it also protects Neurons.
20. Cannabinoids dilate our brochial tubes and help asthsma sufferers to breath both in and out. Because of the balance that is maintained in our bodies for good health there are instances where it works backwards, where death is possible, if too much is smoked. This goes back to the effects of cannabinoids on individuals and if it doesn't work for you, you should not use it. There was some old studies that were done back in 1977 where "AEROSOLIZED THC" was used on patients. This is not what the government tells us when they say it's not medicine, but we are all familiar with the 7 government patients that are supplied marijuana to be used as medicine and we know the government is lying.
21. Natural pain eradication by cannabinol used by our receptors.
22. Cannabinoids control how we view the future. If you're loaded with bad experiences you're going to be fearful of the future. Lots of smoking of cannabinoids makes you want to be in the future. Lack of change vs embracing the future and changes. Conservative people might die prematurely, stressed, uptight and fearful (genocide). Open minded people and mice are able to change, whereas; people with defective receptors and knock-out mice (mice that have had their receptors removed) will keep going to the platform after it has been removed. They will be fearful of change.
23. Cannabinoids prevent and treat certain types of Cancer. Glioma (Brain Cancer) along with pheochromocytoma, skin cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, Lymphoma and Leukemia. Cannabinoids may prevent or cure cancer. Cannabinoids have a way of killing the bad cells and protecting the good ones.
24. Cannabis gives relief to Liver Disease & constant uncontrollable itching. Also, lack of sleep and depression and has been doing so for 600 million years.
25. THC in low doses relieves anxiety, while huge doses promote anxiety. (It's too strong like Marinol) Smoking marijuana relieves anxiety. Marijuana promotes sleeping better and normal persons when they are deprived of marijuana would have difficulty sleeping. (One other thing I'd like to add: When ingested, delta 9 THC, on the first pass thru the liver, changes into delta 11 THC. Five times as psychoactive and much longer lasting. I don't know how many people understand that. Ralph)
26. Cannabis protects nerve cells from dying thus protects against Altzheimers Disease.
27. Our bodies make up marijuana like compounds to make us hungry. (gives us the munchies) Then turn off those compounds & we don't have the munchies anymore when it has had enough food. The cannabinoid system first appeared 600 million years ago. Food & feeding is at the heart of evolution & the development of new species.
28. Head injuries cause the body to produce Endo-cannabinoids to protect itself as well as protecting the body against Nerve Gas. Marijuana turns on the bodies Protective Mode, because when you're hungry the body makes Cannabinoids to turn on your hunger. Cannabinoids turn on the expression of a Particular Gene (at the same time it prevents the expression of other Genes). How the Marijuana Receptors change the Integral Bio-Chemistry. Some of the Molecules that are involved or been studied in a Model Organism. There is a worm that people study alot. They have very simple Nervous Systems so you can define what exactly is going on. It turns out this one Particular Molecule regulates what is known as a Transcription Factor (It turns on the Expression of Genes.) It turns out that when you turn on the Expression of this Particular Gene of the Worm Model it actually promotes Mimicking a condition that actually Promotes Longevity of these worms. This Parallels what we've seen in mice. Because Marijuana exhibits Free Radicals so people who've been using Cannabis, Long Term, tend to Live Longer & Look Younger. Marijuana Promotes your Health by affecting your Nerve Cells, by Balancing your Immune System, by Reducing Fat Deposition in your Cardio-Vascular System. It looks as if it helps Burn the Synthesis of things like Cholesterol.
29. New research shows that the argument over outlawing cannabis because it "Causes Cancer" is no longer valid. There are Nicotine Receptors in your throat. There are no Cannabinoid Receptors in your throat. Cells have a Bio-chemical Program known as "APOPTOSIS". This Bio-chemical Program is activated when cells too damaged to repair themselves commit suicide. There is a Bio-chemical Pathway that controls that. Nicotine activates a path that protects the cells from dying. Smoking anything puts Carcinogens into your Air Passage-ways and Cardio-Vascular system. Cells that get damaged by smoke die and that's what you want to happen. Cells to die before they become Cancer Cells.
30. Cannabinoids modulate pain peripherally. In our bodies there are special kinds of pain receptors, known as Vanaloid receptors & they are sensitive to things like heat & excessive pressure & they are responsible for pain. It turns out that a natural regulator of that that down-regulates pain. The endocannabinoid known as Anandamide, the blissful amide, when you combine Sanskrit for ananda & amide for the chemical type. It's clearly known that cannabis can regulate pain, that's been done in numerous studies, but recently , as we learn more about the molecular mechanisms of pain & cannabinoid action what we have now learned is that there is a lot of crosstalk between the cannabinoid system & the morphine, the opioid system. The name of an article that just came out is called Chronic morphine modulates the contents of the endocannabinoid tuorachidonalglycerol in the rat brain. So, tuorachidonalglycerol is another endocannabinoid. We feel pain thru the sensory nerves that are telling us that we're in a painful situation & on the other hand we feel it within our minds because certain areas of our brain subsequently get tickled. What we are seeing now is that the cannabinoid system works both peripherally & centrally & what we are gonna talk about here is this new work that links the cannabinoids more with the opioids in that opioids & cannabinoids are among the most widely consumed drugs of abuse in humans & phenomena of cross-tolerations or mutual potentiation demonstrated between these two drugs. Some of the recent work on pain has come out of England as a result of work done by G.W. Pharmaceuticals which is a company that specializes in producing cannabis plants. They've developed different strains that have different ratios of the cannabinoids & those different plants have different properties. In the past I've mentioned Bi-Polar disorder. Some people who are Bi-Polar & are depressive find Sativa's are good to help elevate them & if they're in an elevated mood & in a manic state they have to be brought down alittle & the Indica's seem to be better for that & likewise they're different ratio's of these cannabinoids that are thought to benefit for example pain, more than others, that are thought to benefit auto-immune diseases. This is being worked out, but what I'd like to go into now is that some of the new links that seem to be occurring in this particular study that I just mentioned, what they are finding is that chronic administration of Opioids is in fact down-regulating the tuorachidonalglycerol which as mentioned, is one of the endo-cannabinoids. Interestingly the Anandamide level seem to be remaining the same, but this other one, tuorachidonalglycerol seems to be down-regulated. In knock-out mice, these are mice where a particular gene is missing, it turns out that you can eliminate alot of the withdrawal systems associated with opium if you have knocked out the receptors. When people go thru withdrawal, they get terribly nauseous & feel horribly sick, well, what we do know cannabinoids control nausea. That's why it's being used by people who are receiving Chemo-therapy or disorders where they are chronically nauseous. Cannabinoids can be very effective for that. So what we are seeing is that morphine turns down the Endogenous cannabinoid Arachidonic acid & that seems to be involved in some of the addictive behavior & this is kind of interesting because we know that cannabinoids themselves other than very twisted circumstances do not show addictive behavior. On the one hand we have the cannabinoid potentiating the morphine, in that people who need morphine for pain can often use 50% of what they normally use by including cannabinoids & on the other hand, we're seeing that the cannabinoid receptor system is involved in addiction & I mentioned a long time ago, that cannabinoids can be beneficial for some people in their attempt to withdraw & now we're seeing support for that in that chronic morphine administration is turning off one of the cannabinoids that's in turn, turning on some of the withdrawal systems.
31. Cannabinoids represent a general class of chemicals, not just cannabis & THC in plants, but rather also cannabinoids that are produced in our bodies. These happen to be Lipid compounds that result from burning & making fats. The thing that is so unique about this system represents how it works so broadly for various health reasons. That is that every single system in our bodies & by system I mean our nervous system or digestive system or reproductive system or immunological system or endocrine system, you name it & the cannabinoids are involved in maintaining what's known as homostasis balance. We need to have the right amount of these components of this system which includes the compounds like THC which is better known as Lygan. They bind to specific receptors & then they are broken down by another enzyme that breaks down these things. So, we have a whole network of bio-chemistry that's influencing everything in our bodies. The question that arises is that the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. The system, the cannabinoid system influencing everything in our bodies & the question is what are the nature of the wholes? What are the greater pictures that emerge out of this cannabinoid systems activity. So we see, for example, regulating reproductive system, digestive system, immune system & when they are all working together in a way that is concertedly modulated by the cannabinoid system what can we expect to see, & I would suggest that what's represented by the influences of cannabinoids & cannabis on our mind, in that it opens up our minds to new ways of thinking, it free's us from being stuck in a single track of thinking & that's exactly the kind of thought processes that are required as we move into the future which is generally composed of the unknown. What the cannabinoid system is doing is giving us a way to peacefully & lovingly adapt to change & be open to change. We see in these mice that we can knock-out the cannabinoid system that they are afraid of change. The implications of this are really profound if in fact we have people that are shifted one way or the other in terms of their ability to modulate & accept change that is of profound importance because we see people that are afraid to look forward, happily embracing the future. There are health ramifications for all of this. The cannabinoid system can help us with cardio-vascular disease where it reduces infarctsize with auto-immune diseases where it helps ameliorate & prevent the development of a whole variety of auto-immune diseases including things like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, crones disease & it's also involved with, as a natural regulator of our pain. So we have this holistic medicine that's influencing so many things & I forgot to mention that it regulates our memories & mental pains & in fact, regulates alot of life/death decisions in our cells, nerve cells in particular, which is why it's so beneficial for neurological disorders often associated with the aging, such as Alzheimer's disease. What we're seeing is a holistic medicine & again it has to be used appropriately, too little is no good, & we may be making enough. Individuals may be making enough, but there could be many many people who are not making enough or their system is not active enough who will be able to benefit from the use of cannabis & other cannabinoids. To regulate all of the things we've mentioned that it regulates. So, we've got a holistic health program. To find the balance that's required for our optimum health is something that's totally built into the cannabinoid system. Therefore, it should be readily available to use wisely.
Cannabinoids, their boiling points, and properties
Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Boiling point: 157*C / 314.6 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Euphoriant, Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antiemetic
cannabidiol (CBD)
Boiling point: 160-180*C / 320-356 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Anxiolytic, Analgesic, Antipsychotic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic
Cannabinol (CBN)
Boiling point: 185*C / 365 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Oxidation, breakdown, product, Sedative, Antibiotic
cannabichromene (CBC)
Boiling point: 220*C / 428 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Antiinflammatory, Antibiotic, Antifungal
Δ-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-8-THC)
Boiling point: 175-178*C / 347-352.4 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Resembles Δ-9-THC, Less psychoactive, More stable Antiemetic
tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
Boiling point: < 220*C / <428 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Analgesic, Euphoriant
Tha Cannabinoid system + List of benefits everyone must read!
The Cannabinoid System
Dr. Robert J. Melamede Ph.D. Chairman of the Biology Department of the University of Colorado:
Conducting Scientific research on Cannabinoids
The Cannabinoid System has been around for over 600 million years. Before the Dinosaurs. The Cannabinoid System is continuously evolutioning and has been retained by all new species. Food and feeding is at the heart of the Cannabinoid System.
1. Cannabinoids are in every living animal on the planet above Hydra and Mollusks, with the exception of insects. Bodies are homeostatically maintained by the Cannabinoid System.
2. Mothers give their babies a booster shot of cannabinoids in mothers milk to give them the munchies because they have to learn to eat. (they've been fed thru the umbilical cord and did not have to know how to eat.)
3. Mice lacking the CB1 receptors don't like any changes. If they are moved to another part of the cage they act upset and when they are put back to the original spot in the cage they relax, but if then put into another part of the cage they get upset again. Comment: I wonder if people, especially drug warriors, had their CB1 receptors blocked then they would resist change and the ones of us that have unblocked CB1 receptors enjoy the benefits of cannabinoids are a lot more relaxed and not paranoid about or over change. Interesting thought. It turns out that that thought is absolutely correct. Many people' brains are not capable of a good connection to the CB1 CB2 receptors.
4. All new species utilize cannabinoids.
5. By being alive and breathing air our bodies produce "free radicals". Cannabinoids help to reverse this action.
6. Cannabinoids do kill brain cells, but the brain cells they kill are called "Glioma" or Cancer of the brain (Tumor). All other brain cells are protected and healed by cannabinoids. (Glioma cells cannot tolerate the action of cannabinoids)
7. Cannabinoids protect against sunburn and skin cancer because of the CB1 receptors in our skin.
8. Cannabinoids slow down the aging process. Mice that their brains respond to cannabinoids live longer and mice that have brains that block the CB1 receptors die younger.
9. Activity in the evolutionary advanced areas of the brain is increased in cannabinoids receptors and promotes higher consciousness levels.
10. Cannabinoids are even found in the white blood cells (CB2 receptors). The CB2 receptors are found predominantly on immunological cells and regulate the shift in the immune system to the anti-inflammatory mode.
11. Cannabinoids protect the heart against Arythmia.
12. * one of my favorites: The way it works on pain is there is specific nerves that deal with pain. They are called vanilloid-Receptors. Anandamide (sanscript word for "Blissful Amide"), the bodies internally produced marijuana binds with the nerve endings, reducing pain. Anandamides are produced internally by our bodies in response to a whole variety of conditions. As an example, Aspirin prevents the breakdown of Anandamide, the internally produced marijuana to activate & start working at easing pain. How many old lady's say they "WOULD NEVER" use marijuana & are actually using the equivalent of marijuana that their bodies produce as a natural activity, & don't even realize it. And how many politicians and citizens of the US do this also & aren't even aware they are condemning something that their bodies make naturally. Anecdotal evidence is valid because when a person smokes marijuana & it relieves their pain, then they smoke it again & it relieves their pain again it becomes a fact known only to that person, but nonetheless true.
13. In the case of most autoimmune diseases, the bodies immune cells produces free radicals & is destroying it's own body as a foreign object. Cannabis pushes the immune system into anti inflammatory mode & helps slow the progression of that disease, thereby slowing down the aging process.
14. Seizures are controlled by marijuana not only THC, but non-psychoactive cannabidiol.(CBD) The exact mechanism is not known, however HEMP is high in CBD's & can cancel out the psychoactive high of THC & at the same time benefits the user or smoker. Cannabinoids control everything in our bodies including our minds.
15. There are many other things that Cannabinoids do in the body, besides attaching to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, the main cannabinoid receptors in the higher part of our brain. Cannabinoids affect our skin and other parts of our bodies.
16. Pharmaceutical companies are working at sythesizing different cannabinoid components and different types of strains of marijuana. If they can succeed, then there will be more choices for you and I to choose from and we will be able to use what works best for our particular bodies.
17. The natural course for mankind, because of the location of our CB1 CB2 the brains main receptors, is to be more stoned.
18. Drug warriors are not doing what they are doing to us because they are intentionally evil, but because they are more primitive (obtuse comes to mind). They look at the world with fear and hostility not cooperativity and understanding.
19. According to a brain function study of 150 depressed people Cannabis protects the brain against healthy cell death and it also protects Neurons.
20. Cannabinoids dilate our brochial tubes and help asthsma sufferers to breath both in and out. Because of the balance that is maintained in our bodies for good health there are instances where it works backwards, where death is possible, if too much is smoked. This goes back to the effects of cannabinoids on individuals and if it doesn't work for you, you should not use it. There was some old studies that were done back in 1977 where "AEROSOLIZED THC" was used on patients. This is not what the government tells us when they say it's not medicine, but we are all familiar with the 7 government patients that are supplied marijuana to be used as medicine and we know the government is lying.
21. Natural pain eradication by cannabinol used by our receptors.
22. Cannabinoids control how we view the future. If you're loaded with bad experiences you're going to be fearful of the future. Lots of smoking of cannabinoids makes you want to be in the future. Lack of change vs embracing the future and changes. Conservative people might die prematurely, stressed, uptight and fearful (genocide). Open minded people and mice are able to change, whereas; people with defective receptors and knock-out mice (mice that have had their receptors removed) will keep going to the platform after it has been removed. They will be fearful of change.
23. Cannabinoids prevent and treat certain types of Cancer. Glioma (Brain Cancer) along with pheochromocytoma, skin cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, Lymphoma and Leukemia. Cannabinoids may prevent or cure cancer. Cannabinoids have a way of killing the bad cells and protecting the good ones.
24. Cannabis gives relief to Liver Disease & constant uncontrollable itching. Also, lack of sleep and depression and has been doing so for 600 million years.
25. THC in low doses relieves anxiety, while huge doses promote anxiety. (It's too strong like Marinol) Smoking marijuana relieves anxiety. Marijuana promotes sleeping better and normal persons when they are deprived of marijuana would have difficulty sleeping. (One other thing I'd like to add: When ingested, delta 9 THC, on the first pass thru the liver, changes into delta 11 THC. Five times as psychoactive and much longer lasting. I don't know how many people understand that. Ralph)
26. Cannabis protects nerve cells from dying thus protects against Altzheimers Disease.
27. Our bodies make up marijuana like compounds to make us hungry. (gives us the munchies) Then turn off those compounds & we don't have the munchies anymore when it has had enough food. The cannabinoid system first appeared 600 million years ago. Food & feeding is at the heart of evolution & the development of new species.
28. Head injuries cause the body to produce Endo-cannabinoids to protect itself as well as protecting the body against Nerve Gas. Marijuana turns on the bodies Protective Mode, because when you're hungry the body makes Cannabinoids to turn on your hunger. Cannabinoids turn on the expression of a Particular Gene (at the same time it prevents the expression of other Genes). How the Marijuana Receptors change the Integral Bio-Chemistry. Some of the Molecules that are involved or been studied in a Model Organism. There is a worm that people study alot. They have very simple Nervous Systems so you can define what exactly is going on. It turns out this one Particular Molecule regulates what is known as a Transcription Factor (It turns on the Expression of Genes.) It turns out that when you turn on the Expression of this Particular Gene of the Worm Model it actually promotes Mimicking a condition that actually Promotes Longevity of these worms. This Parallels what we've seen in mice. Because Marijuana exhibits Free Radicals so people who've been using Cannabis, Long Term, tend to Live Longer & Look Younger. Marijuana Promotes your Health by affecting your Nerve Cells, by Balancing your Immune System, by Reducing Fat Deposition in your Cardio-Vascular System. It looks as if it helps Burn the Synthesis of things like Cholesterol.
29. New research shows that the argument over outlawing cannabis because it "Causes Cancer" is no longer valid. There are Nicotine Receptors in your throat. There are no Cannabinoid Receptors in your throat. Cells have a Bio-chemical Program known as "APOPTOSIS". This Bio-chemical Program is activated when cells too damaged to repair themselves commit suicide. There is a Bio-chemical Pathway that controls that. Nicotine activates a path that protects the cells from dying. Smoking anything puts Carcinogens into your Air Passage-ways and Cardio-Vascular system. Cells that get damaged by smoke die and that's what you want to happen. Cells to die before they become Cancer Cells.
30. Cannabinoids modulate pain peripherally. In our bodies there are special kinds of pain receptors, known as Vanaloid receptors & they are sensitive to things like heat & excessive pressure & they are responsible for pain. It turns out that a natural regulator of that that down-regulates pain. The endocannabinoid known as Anandamide, the blissful amide, when you combine Sanskrit for ananda & amide for the chemical type. It's clearly known that cannabis can regulate pain, that's been done in numerous studies, but recently , as we learn more about the molecular mechanisms of pain & cannabinoid action what we have now learned is that there is a lot of crosstalk between the cannabinoid system & the morphine, the opioid system. The name of an article that just came out is called Chronic morphine modulates the contents of the endocannabinoid tuorachidonalglycerol in the rat brain. So, tuorachidonalglycerol is another endocannabinoid. We feel pain thru the sensory nerves that are telling us that we're in a painful situation & on the other hand we feel it within our minds because certain areas of our brain subsequently get tickled. What we are seeing now is that the cannabinoid system works both peripherally & centrally & what we are gonna talk about here is this new work that links the cannabinoids more with the opioids in that opioids & cannabinoids are among the most widely consumed drugs of abuse in humans & phenomena of cross-tolerations or mutual potentiation demonstrated between these two drugs. Some of the recent work on pain has come out of England as a result of work done by G.W. Pharmaceuticals which is a company that specializes in producing cannabis plants. They've developed different strains that have different ratios of the cannabinoids & those different plants have different properties. In the past I've mentioned Bi-Polar disorder. Some people who are Bi-Polar & are depressive find Sativa's are good to help elevate them & if they're in an elevated mood & in a manic state they have to be brought down alittle & the Indica's seem to be better for that & likewise they're different ratio's of these cannabinoids that are thought to benefit for example pain, more than others, that are thought to benefit auto-immune diseases. This is being worked out, but what I'd like to go into now is that some of the new links that seem to be occurring in this particular study that I just mentioned, what they are finding is that chronic administration of Opioids is in fact down-regulating the tuorachidonalglycerol which as mentioned, is one of the endo-cannabinoids. Interestingly the Anandamide level seem to be remaining the same, but this other one, tuorachidonalglycerol seems to be down-regulated. In knock-out mice, these are mice where a particular gene is missing, it turns out that you can eliminate alot of the withdrawal systems associated with opium if you have knocked out the receptors. When people go thru withdrawal, they get terribly nauseous & feel horribly sick, well, what we do know cannabinoids control nausea. That's why it's being used by people who are receiving Chemo-therapy or disorders where they are chronically nauseous. Cannabinoids can be very effective for that. So what we are seeing is that morphine turns down the Endogenous cannabinoid Arachidonic acid & that seems to be involved in some of the addictive behavior & this is kind of interesting because we know that cannabinoids themselves other than very twisted circumstances do not show addictive behavior. On the one hand we have the cannabinoid potentiating the morphine, in that people who need morphine for pain can often use 50% of what they normally use by including cannabinoids & on the other hand, we're seeing that the cannabinoid receptor system is involved in addiction & I mentioned a long time ago, that cannabinoids can be beneficial for some people in their attempt to withdraw & now we're seeing support for that in that chronic morphine administration is turning off one of the cannabinoids that's in turn, turning on some of the withdrawal systems.
31. Cannabinoids represent a general class of chemicals, not just cannabis & THC in plants, but rather also cannabinoids that are produced in our bodies. These happen to be Lipid compounds that result from burning & making fats. The thing that is so unique about this system represents how it works so broadly for various health reasons. That is that every single system in our bodies & by system I mean our nervous system or digestive system or reproductive system or immunological system or endocrine system, you name it & the cannabinoids are involved in maintaining what's known as homostasis balance. We need to have the right amount of these components of this system which includes the compounds like THC which is better known as Lygan. They bind to specific receptors & then they are broken down by another enzyme that breaks down these things. So, we have a whole network of bio-chemistry that's influencing everything in our bodies. The question that arises is that the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. The system, the cannabinoid system influencing everything in our bodies & the question is what are the nature of the wholes? What are the greater pictures that emerge out of this cannabinoid systems activity. So we see, for example, regulating reproductive system, digestive system, immune system & when they are all working together in a way that is concertedly modulated by the cannabinoid system what can we expect to see, & I would suggest that what's represented by the influences of cannabinoids & cannabis on our mind, in that it opens up our minds to new ways of thinking, it free's us from being stuck in a single track of thinking & that's exactly the kind of thought processes that are required as we move into the future which is generally composed of the unknown. What the cannabinoid system is doing is giving us a way to peacefully & lovingly adapt to change & be open to change. We see in these mice that we can knock-out the cannabinoid system that they are afraid of change. The implications of this are really profound if in fact we have people that are shifted one way or the other in terms of their ability to modulate & accept change that is of profound importance because we see people that are afraid to look forward, happily embracing the future. There are health ramifications for all of this. The cannabinoid system can help us with cardio-vascular disease where it reduces infarctsize with auto-immune diseases where it helps ameliorate & prevent the development of a whole variety of auto-immune diseases including things like arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, crones disease & it's also involved with, as a natural regulator of our pain. So we have this holistic medicine that's influencing so many things & I forgot to mention that it regulates our memories & mental pains & in fact, regulates alot of life/death decisions in our cells, nerve cells in particular, which is why it's so beneficial for neurological disorders often associated with the aging, such as Alzheimer's disease. What we're seeing is a holistic medicine & again it has to be used appropriately, too little is no good, & we may be making enough. Individuals may be making enough, but there could be many many people who are not making enough or their system is not active enough who will be able to benefit from the use of cannabis & other cannabinoids. To regulate all of the things we've mentioned that it regulates. So, we've got a holistic health program. To find the balance that's required for our optimum health is something that's totally built into the cannabinoid system. Therefore, it should be readily available to use wisely.
Cannabinoids, their boiling points, and properties
Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Boiling point: 157*C / 314.6 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Euphoriant, Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antiemetic
cannabidiol (CBD)
Boiling point: 160-180*C / 320-356 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Anxiolytic, Analgesic, Antipsychotic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic
Cannabinol (CBN)
Boiling point: 185*C / 365 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Oxidation, breakdown, product, Sedative, Antibiotic
cannabichromene (CBC)
Boiling point: 220*C / 428 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Antiinflammatory, Antibiotic, Antifungal
Δ-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-8-THC)
Boiling point: 175-178*C / 347-352.4 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Resembles Δ-9-THC, Less psychoactive, More stable Antiemetic
tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
Boiling point: < 220*C / <428 degree Fahrenheit
Properties: Analgesic, Euphoriant
S
SeaMaiden
I make my own hull mix, and also use it as mulch. Because I use the animal bedding type, it sprouts, which may not be such a bad thing. We are, however, also members of the state Farm Bureau. This affords us a few benefits, and allows us certain tax deductions.
I was going to say something else, but now I can't remember what it was!
Bang!! As in The Big One. I know! Right? I think that water has blocked from its memory the trauma of being delivered by an extraterrestrial body. Like abuse, yards know? Or maybe it was just too young to remember (doubt that, though, by then I'm pretty sure it was in its billions by then)?
I was going to say something else, but now I can't remember what it was!
Bang!! As in The Big One. I know! Right? I think that water has blocked from its memory the trauma of being delivered by an extraterrestrial body. Like abuse, yards know? Or maybe it was just too young to remember (doubt that, though, by then I'm pretty sure it was in its billions by then)?
chief bigsmoke
Active member
tbd.....
tbd.....
deleted
tbd.....
deleted
S
SeaMaiden
Oh! Now I remember what I was going to say yesterday. It was to do with your other reasons behind not using meals, and I simply wanted to comment that I feel this other line of reasoning is sound and the effects of CAFOs are, as I suspect you know, well established. Terrible farming practices, IMO, and a price is paid on many levels for this unnatural method of food production.
MissGreenDreamz
Member
Terrible farming practices, IMO, and a price is paid on many levels for this unnatural method of food production.
yup. Bone and blood meal grose me out to the max I occasionally eat beef, but I must say that I'm never in the mood to smoke it. I'd rather taste a little trace of fish meal fresh from the ocean, harvested sustainably. I understand its a readily available resource, but I just ask myself why anyone would use these disgusting animal by-products when much better is also readily available. The veganic thing is silly IMO. there's nothing wrong with fish, there is a huge prob. with cow. Blechhhh. My ladies are pescatarians... fish, crab, kelp... no trace of bone or blood. ~MGD
Dang, Chief! This is going to be an epic thread. So much info! I thought it might be nice to throw up a quick reference guide to some amendments and such. http://www.fifthseasongardening.com/tips/soil_amendments.pdf
yup. Bone and blood meal grose me out to the max
I occasionally eat beef, but I must say that I'm never in the mood to smoke it. I'd rather taste a little trace of fish meal fresh from the ocean, harvested sustainably. I understand its a readily available resource, but I just ask myself why anyone would use these disgusting animal by-products when much better is also readily available. The veganic thing is silly IMO. there's nothing wrong with fish, there is a huge prob. with cow. Blechhhh. My ladies are pescatarians... fish, crab, kelp... no trace of bone or blood. ~MGDDang, Chief! This is going to be an epic thread. So much info! I thought it might be nice to throw up a quick reference guide to some amendments and such. http://www.fifthseasongardening.com/tips/soil_amendments.pdf
chief bigsmoke
Active member
Terrible farming practices, IMO, and a price is paid on many levels for this unnatural method of food production.
yup. Bone and blood meal grose me out to the max
Dang, Chief! This is going to be an epic thread. So much info! I thought it might be nice to throw up a quick reference guide to some amendments and such. http://www.fifthseasongardening.com/tips/soil_amendments.pdf
You're a genius MGD's and a perfect addition your amendments link will be. Feel free to post ANYTHING that you find relative to our conversations. I would never hate on anyone with a kind heart to share knowledge. Sharing is caring...
I love your position on bone/blood meals and veganics. I too have no problem with marine derived nutes and my plants love eggs shells.
chief bigsmoke
Active member
haha a couple of you were using the acronym IMO(in my opinion) and I had no idea what it meant until I googled it. The phrase IMO will be very helpful in explaining things to certain people.
chief bigsmoke
Active member
Amendment Catologue part 1
Amendment Catologue part 1
Worm Castings
Worm castings are worm excrement. They are rich in micronutrients and trace elements, humates, and microbial life, though worm castings do have macronutrients as well. Castings are perfect for potted houseplants and during transplant into the garden for vegetable crops. With abundant microbial life and natural time release (3 weeks or so), they are one of our
favorite fertilizers. The Wiggle Worm white bags that we carry are listed as 1-0-0. The red bags of Worm Earth and Worm Castings are approximately 4-3-2 and also have 6-8% calcium. Add at 1 tablespoon per gallon of potting soil for houseplants, or 3 tablespoons per transplant, mixed in the soil directly below the roots.
Greensand
Greensand is a mined ore called Glauconite. It is mainly potash and hydrated silicate of iron. This ore contains a huge amount of potassium and up to 32 trace minerals. The potassium is not all immediately available (i.e. not water soluble) and will remain in the soil for future gardens. Greensand helps break up clay soils and helps bind sandy soils. Greensand has been gaining in popularity over the past few years, even outside of organic gardening circles, though organic growers have long known the benefits of greensand. It increases plant vitality and vigor, which will help with everything from fruiting to pest control. A healthy plant can defend itself!
Bat Guano
Bat Guano is one of the oldest fertilizers known to humans. Legends say that bat guano was so important to the Inca civilization in South America that the penalty for harming bats was death. Bat guano begins as plant life that is eaten by insects, which in turn are eaten by bats. Bat droppings fall to the floor of the cave where millions of guano beetles eat the droppings as their food. At the same time, beneficial decomposing microbes are also eating the droppings. This process composts the bat
guano and increases the beneficial microorganisms in the guano. It also rids the guano of toxins and dangerous pathogens. Bat guano contains all of the macro nutrients as well as minor and trace elements essential for plant growth. Guano can be purchased with different NPK ratings for different stages of plant growth. Some examples are 10-2-0, used for vegetative growth; 0-13-0, used for rooting and fruiting/flowering; and 10-13-3, used for both vegetative and flower promotion. Guano can be applied in two different ways: top dressing or through a compost tea.
Rock Phosphate
Rock Phosphate is 0-3-0. It contains 3% readily available phosphorus but a total of 24% phosphate that will break down over time. This is a “vegan” alternative to bone meal and is used similarly to bone meal. Rock Phosphate also contains about 30% calcium.
Lime
Lime is used to raise the pH of soil. If you do not know the pH of your soil, your local Extension Service will have testing boxes for soil samples, and the State will test it for free. Soil pH is critical to nutrient uptake. Almost all garden and edible plants prefer a soil pH of 6.3 to 6.8. When the pH is outside of this range, the plant can not absorb or use the nutrients that are in the soil, no matter how fertile it is. The main plants prefering a low pH
(4.5-5.5) are blueberries, blackberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
Crab Shell (similar to egg shell)
Crab shell, as the name suggests, is ground up crab shells with an NPK rating of 2-3-0. Its main benefit, however, is that it contains 23% calcium, particularly good for tomatoes since blossom end rot on tomatoes is caused by a lack of calcium. This slow release calcium will correct that deficiency.
Mushroom Compost
Mushroom compost is the discarded media in which mushrooms grow. It is comprised of peat, manure, and other elements. Mushroom compost is great for micronutrients, trace elements, and some macronutrients. Mushroom compost is a great addition to clay soils. It can also be used to top-dress similar to mulch. People who make their own potting soils can also use mushroom compost. We recommend it be mixed with Sunshine Organic Potting Soil and Pro-Mix to help boost macronutrient content, and
for the Pro-Mix to add humates and microbial life. We recommend it for transplants, especially shrubs, vines, azaleas, and the like, mixing 1/3 mushroom compost with 2/3 soil in the bottom of hole to stimulate roots.
Cottonseed Meal
Cottonseed meal has an NPK of 6-2-1. As the name implies, it is ground cotton seed. This is a good substitute for blood meal for people who either don’t use blood meal or try to garden without using products derived from animals. Cottonseed meal is also good for trees and shrubs. Certified organic farmers may not use this product because of pesticide use in cotton farming which limits OMRI approval.
Vermiculite
Vermiculite is used for nutrient retention but also drainage. It is similar to mica, and because of its many layers, it helps hold and disperse the nutrient throughout the growing media. Vermiculite is also known to reduce soil born diseases and root damage during transplantation. Many professional growers make their own seed starting mix using vermiculite mixed with potting soils or coconut.
Alfalfa Meal
With an NPK rating of 2-0-2, this product contains triaconatol, a natural fatty acid growth stimulant, plus trace minerals. It can be used to make a tea, tilled in, or as a top dressing. It is highly recommended for roses and is a good alternative to cottonseed meal for those concerned with pesticide residue, or for those who want to garden without introducing animal products.
Kelp Meal
Kelp meal has a 1-0-2 NPK. Kelp (Ascophyllum Nodosum), also known as seaweed, is a great amendment to any garden or potting soil. Kelp contains a broad array of vitamins, minerals, and soil conditioning elements. It has natural plant vitamins (like B1) which a lot of synthetic fertilizers try to mimic. Kelp is great for rooting plants, and also one of the best additions when transplanting indoors or out. We recommend kelp to everyone with
an outdoor garden, and liquid kelp to people who are transplanting
vegetables, trees, and shrubs.
Peat Moss
Peat moss is partially decomposed sphagnum moss. Its large cell structure enables it to absorb air and water like a sponge. Although peat moss does not contain nutrients, it absorbs nutrients added to or present in the soil releasing them over time as the plants require. This saves valuable nutrients which are otherwise lost through leaching. Peat moss is a natural, organic soil conditioner that regulates moisture and air around plant roots
for ideal growing conditions. It will help to save water because peat retains up to 20 times its weight in moisture and releases water slowly as plants need it. Peat moss aerates heavy, North Carolina clay soil and helps bind sandy soils. Furthermore, peat moss reduces the leaching of nutrients in or added to the soil, releasing them over time, saving on fertilizer. To use, till two inches of peat moss into the top six or eight inches of soil, and consider adding complementary organic matter, such as compost, for nutrients.
Fish Meal 10-5-0
This product is great for corn and other high nitrogen crops. The can goes a long way (3000 sq.ft.) and for only $8, is a great deal! It does smell like fish, so we don’t recommend it for indoor gardeners who have cats. Fish meal is a good alternative to blood meal or cottonseed meal. Fish has been used for centuries by Native Americans as the primary food for crops, especially corn. Stories have it that Native Americans and old farmers would plant a piece of fish below every corn stalk for a successful crop.
Coconut Fiber
Coconut fiber is the husk of coconuts. It expands to about 7 times its size (from the compressed brick). We recommend expanding the coco, then rinsing it thoroughly. Some companies claim that their coco has no salts. We have not found this to be true. Coconut is a great addition to soil for aeration and also to “stretch” the amount of soil in a bag. We have also used it successfully with perlite (10-20% coco, 80-90% perlite) for orchids. Also, mixed at 30% coco, 70% hydroton, it is great for top drip and flood and drain tables in hydroponics. We have also used coco for seed germination, mixed with 1/10 wormcastings for nutrient. Recently, we have begun to use the coco mixed with perlite (1-2 gal perlite for 4 gal coco) with great success as an all-purpose soiless media.
Perlite
Horticultural perlite is a semi-coarse soil additive that improves soil structure, eliminates soil crusting and compaction, and improves drainage and aeration. Among the unique properties of Horticultural Perlite is its ability to work for many years in the soil. It does this because it is inorganic and does not deteriorate. In addition, perlite is chemically inert and has an essentially neutral pH. Because it is sterile, perlite is free of disease, weed
seeds and insects. Its light weight makes perlite easy to handle and is clean and odorless too. As a soil additive, mix equal parts perlite and soil. Moisten and mix thoroughly. Firm the mix well around the roots but do not pack too tightly. Water thoroughly. For starting seeds or cuttings, mix equal parts of perlite and soil. Moisten thoroughly and add your seeds or cuttings. Pack gently.
http://www.fifthseasongardening.com/...amendments.pdf
c/o MissGreenDreamz - respect....
Amendment Catologue part 1
Worm Castings
Worm castings are worm excrement. They are rich in micronutrients and trace elements, humates, and microbial life, though worm castings do have macronutrients as well. Castings are perfect for potted houseplants and during transplant into the garden for vegetable crops. With abundant microbial life and natural time release (3 weeks or so), they are one of our
favorite fertilizers. The Wiggle Worm white bags that we carry are listed as 1-0-0. The red bags of Worm Earth and Worm Castings are approximately 4-3-2 and also have 6-8% calcium. Add at 1 tablespoon per gallon of potting soil for houseplants, or 3 tablespoons per transplant, mixed in the soil directly below the roots.
Greensand
Greensand is a mined ore called Glauconite. It is mainly potash and hydrated silicate of iron. This ore contains a huge amount of potassium and up to 32 trace minerals. The potassium is not all immediately available (i.e. not water soluble) and will remain in the soil for future gardens. Greensand helps break up clay soils and helps bind sandy soils. Greensand has been gaining in popularity over the past few years, even outside of organic gardening circles, though organic growers have long known the benefits of greensand. It increases plant vitality and vigor, which will help with everything from fruiting to pest control. A healthy plant can defend itself!
Bat Guano
Bat Guano is one of the oldest fertilizers known to humans. Legends say that bat guano was so important to the Inca civilization in South America that the penalty for harming bats was death. Bat guano begins as plant life that is eaten by insects, which in turn are eaten by bats. Bat droppings fall to the floor of the cave where millions of guano beetles eat the droppings as their food. At the same time, beneficial decomposing microbes are also eating the droppings. This process composts the bat
guano and increases the beneficial microorganisms in the guano. It also rids the guano of toxins and dangerous pathogens. Bat guano contains all of the macro nutrients as well as minor and trace elements essential for plant growth. Guano can be purchased with different NPK ratings for different stages of plant growth. Some examples are 10-2-0, used for vegetative growth; 0-13-0, used for rooting and fruiting/flowering; and 10-13-3, used for both vegetative and flower promotion. Guano can be applied in two different ways: top dressing or through a compost tea.
Rock Phosphate
Rock Phosphate is 0-3-0. It contains 3% readily available phosphorus but a total of 24% phosphate that will break down over time. This is a “vegan” alternative to bone meal and is used similarly to bone meal. Rock Phosphate also contains about 30% calcium.
Lime
Lime is used to raise the pH of soil. If you do not know the pH of your soil, your local Extension Service will have testing boxes for soil samples, and the State will test it for free. Soil pH is critical to nutrient uptake. Almost all garden and edible plants prefer a soil pH of 6.3 to 6.8. When the pH is outside of this range, the plant can not absorb or use the nutrients that are in the soil, no matter how fertile it is. The main plants prefering a low pH
(4.5-5.5) are blueberries, blackberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
Crab Shell (similar to egg shell)
Crab shell, as the name suggests, is ground up crab shells with an NPK rating of 2-3-0. Its main benefit, however, is that it contains 23% calcium, particularly good for tomatoes since blossom end rot on tomatoes is caused by a lack of calcium. This slow release calcium will correct that deficiency.
Mushroom Compost
Mushroom compost is the discarded media in which mushrooms grow. It is comprised of peat, manure, and other elements. Mushroom compost is great for micronutrients, trace elements, and some macronutrients. Mushroom compost is a great addition to clay soils. It can also be used to top-dress similar to mulch. People who make their own potting soils can also use mushroom compost. We recommend it be mixed with Sunshine Organic Potting Soil and Pro-Mix to help boost macronutrient content, and
for the Pro-Mix to add humates and microbial life. We recommend it for transplants, especially shrubs, vines, azaleas, and the like, mixing 1/3 mushroom compost with 2/3 soil in the bottom of hole to stimulate roots.
Cottonseed Meal
Cottonseed meal has an NPK of 6-2-1. As the name implies, it is ground cotton seed. This is a good substitute for blood meal for people who either don’t use blood meal or try to garden without using products derived from animals. Cottonseed meal is also good for trees and shrubs. Certified organic farmers may not use this product because of pesticide use in cotton farming which limits OMRI approval.
Vermiculite
Vermiculite is used for nutrient retention but also drainage. It is similar to mica, and because of its many layers, it helps hold and disperse the nutrient throughout the growing media. Vermiculite is also known to reduce soil born diseases and root damage during transplantation. Many professional growers make their own seed starting mix using vermiculite mixed with potting soils or coconut.
Alfalfa Meal
With an NPK rating of 2-0-2, this product contains triaconatol, a natural fatty acid growth stimulant, plus trace minerals. It can be used to make a tea, tilled in, or as a top dressing. It is highly recommended for roses and is a good alternative to cottonseed meal for those concerned with pesticide residue, or for those who want to garden without introducing animal products.
Kelp Meal
Kelp meal has a 1-0-2 NPK. Kelp (Ascophyllum Nodosum), also known as seaweed, is a great amendment to any garden or potting soil. Kelp contains a broad array of vitamins, minerals, and soil conditioning elements. It has natural plant vitamins (like B1) which a lot of synthetic fertilizers try to mimic. Kelp is great for rooting plants, and also one of the best additions when transplanting indoors or out. We recommend kelp to everyone with
an outdoor garden, and liquid kelp to people who are transplanting
vegetables, trees, and shrubs.
Peat Moss
Peat moss is partially decomposed sphagnum moss. Its large cell structure enables it to absorb air and water like a sponge. Although peat moss does not contain nutrients, it absorbs nutrients added to or present in the soil releasing them over time as the plants require. This saves valuable nutrients which are otherwise lost through leaching. Peat moss is a natural, organic soil conditioner that regulates moisture and air around plant roots
for ideal growing conditions. It will help to save water because peat retains up to 20 times its weight in moisture and releases water slowly as plants need it. Peat moss aerates heavy, North Carolina clay soil and helps bind sandy soils. Furthermore, peat moss reduces the leaching of nutrients in or added to the soil, releasing them over time, saving on fertilizer. To use, till two inches of peat moss into the top six or eight inches of soil, and consider adding complementary organic matter, such as compost, for nutrients.
Fish Meal 10-5-0
This product is great for corn and other high nitrogen crops. The can goes a long way (3000 sq.ft.) and for only $8, is a great deal! It does smell like fish, so we don’t recommend it for indoor gardeners who have cats. Fish meal is a good alternative to blood meal or cottonseed meal. Fish has been used for centuries by Native Americans as the primary food for crops, especially corn. Stories have it that Native Americans and old farmers would plant a piece of fish below every corn stalk for a successful crop.
Coconut Fiber
Coconut fiber is the husk of coconuts. It expands to about 7 times its size (from the compressed brick). We recommend expanding the coco, then rinsing it thoroughly. Some companies claim that their coco has no salts. We have not found this to be true. Coconut is a great addition to soil for aeration and also to “stretch” the amount of soil in a bag. We have also used it successfully with perlite (10-20% coco, 80-90% perlite) for orchids. Also, mixed at 30% coco, 70% hydroton, it is great for top drip and flood and drain tables in hydroponics. We have also used coco for seed germination, mixed with 1/10 wormcastings for nutrient. Recently, we have begun to use the coco mixed with perlite (1-2 gal perlite for 4 gal coco) with great success as an all-purpose soiless media.
Perlite
Horticultural perlite is a semi-coarse soil additive that improves soil structure, eliminates soil crusting and compaction, and improves drainage and aeration. Among the unique properties of Horticultural Perlite is its ability to work for many years in the soil. It does this because it is inorganic and does not deteriorate. In addition, perlite is chemically inert and has an essentially neutral pH. Because it is sterile, perlite is free of disease, weed
seeds and insects. Its light weight makes perlite easy to handle and is clean and odorless too. As a soil additive, mix equal parts perlite and soil. Moisten and mix thoroughly. Firm the mix well around the roots but do not pack too tightly. Water thoroughly. For starting seeds or cuttings, mix equal parts of perlite and soil. Moisten thoroughly and add your seeds or cuttings. Pack gently.
http://www.fifthseasongardening.com/...amendments.pdf
c/o MissGreenDreamz - respect....
Closet_Grower
Member
hey chief so basically my brain is built for weed? I kinda thought so, thats rad.
chief bigsmoke
Active member
You're whole body is built for it!!! super rad
chief bigsmoke
Active member
Parts of a Flower
Parts of a Flower
The Parts of a Flower
Source: Robinson Library: http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/science/botany/anatomy/flowerparts.htm
A typical flower grows on a receptacle, or torus, an enlarged part of the flower stalk. The flower consists of four whorls, or sets, of parts. These whorls are (1) the calyx, (2) the corolla, (3) the stamens, and (4) the pistils.
The outermost whorl is the calyx. Within the calyx is the corolla. The calyx and corolla together form the perianth. The stamens, or male reproductive organs, lie within the corolla. The pistils, or female parts of the flower, make up the innermost whorl of parts.
The Calyx is usually made up of small, green, leaflike sepals. These sepals protect the delicate inner parts of the flower bud. When the bud matures, the sepals usually spread apart widely, and may drop off. To prevent such insects as ants and beetles from climbing into the flower from below, the sepals may bend backward or bear special bristly structures.
The Corolla usually consists of a group of colorful petals. The bright colors of the corolla attract insects and birds that pollinate the flower. Some flowers, such as the anemones, have no corolla. Their sepals have become petal-like in color and function. In many plants of the lily family, the sepals and petals are almost identical in size, shape, and color. Such sepals and petals together are called tepals. Lizard's-tail flowers have neither calyx nor corolla, and botanists call them naked flowers.
The petals of a flower may unite to form a structure resembling a tube, saucer, pouch, or other object. In the morning-glory, the corolla looks like a bell; in the moccasin flower, like a slipper; in the canary-bird vine, like a tiny flying canary; and in the sacred datura, like a long trumpet. The doubled flowers of our gardens, such as carnations and cabbage roses, may have hundreds of petals.
The Stamens may vary in number from one to more than a thousand. They are usually separate from each other. But in some flowers they grow together to form a ring or cup. In others, such as lobelias, lupines, and mallows, they join to form a tube.
In most plants, each stamen has a long, narrow filament, or stalk. Most filaments are like threads, but some are flat and look like paper. Others may have winged or toothlike edges. On top of the filament is an enlargement called the anther. The anther usually consists of four baglike structures called pollen sacs or micro-sporangia. Dustlike pollen is produced in the sacs. Stamens are called staminodes if they lack anthers or if the anthers fail to produce pollen.
The Pistils may vary in number from one to many. In some flowers, several separate pistils may join together to form a single compound pistil. Each pistil normally consists of three parts: the stigma, the style, and the ovary.
The stigma, at the top, may be large and feathery or small and hard to see. When the stigma is "ripe," its sticky upper surface catches and holds any pollen grains that fall on it. Beneath the stigma, the long, slender style leads to a round or long chamber called the ovary. Sometimes the pistil has no style, and the stigma rests directly on top of the ovary. The ovules (egg cells) that develop into seeds, grow inside the ovary.
Parts of a Flower
The Parts of a Flower
Source: Robinson Library: http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/science/botany/anatomy/flowerparts.htm
A typical flower grows on a receptacle, or torus, an enlarged part of the flower stalk. The flower consists of four whorls, or sets, of parts. These whorls are (1) the calyx, (2) the corolla, (3) the stamens, and (4) the pistils.
The outermost whorl is the calyx. Within the calyx is the corolla. The calyx and corolla together form the perianth. The stamens, or male reproductive organs, lie within the corolla. The pistils, or female parts of the flower, make up the innermost whorl of parts.
The Calyx is usually made up of small, green, leaflike sepals. These sepals protect the delicate inner parts of the flower bud. When the bud matures, the sepals usually spread apart widely, and may drop off. To prevent such insects as ants and beetles from climbing into the flower from below, the sepals may bend backward or bear special bristly structures.
The Corolla usually consists of a group of colorful petals. The bright colors of the corolla attract insects and birds that pollinate the flower. Some flowers, such as the anemones, have no corolla. Their sepals have become petal-like in color and function. In many plants of the lily family, the sepals and petals are almost identical in size, shape, and color. Such sepals and petals together are called tepals. Lizard's-tail flowers have neither calyx nor corolla, and botanists call them naked flowers.
The petals of a flower may unite to form a structure resembling a tube, saucer, pouch, or other object. In the morning-glory, the corolla looks like a bell; in the moccasin flower, like a slipper; in the canary-bird vine, like a tiny flying canary; and in the sacred datura, like a long trumpet. The doubled flowers of our gardens, such as carnations and cabbage roses, may have hundreds of petals.
The Stamens may vary in number from one to more than a thousand. They are usually separate from each other. But in some flowers they grow together to form a ring or cup. In others, such as lobelias, lupines, and mallows, they join to form a tube.
In most plants, each stamen has a long, narrow filament, or stalk. Most filaments are like threads, but some are flat and look like paper. Others may have winged or toothlike edges. On top of the filament is an enlargement called the anther. The anther usually consists of four baglike structures called pollen sacs or micro-sporangia. Dustlike pollen is produced in the sacs. Stamens are called staminodes if they lack anthers or if the anthers fail to produce pollen.
The Pistils may vary in number from one to many. In some flowers, several separate pistils may join together to form a single compound pistil. Each pistil normally consists of three parts: the stigma, the style, and the ovary.
The stigma, at the top, may be large and feathery or small and hard to see. When the stigma is "ripe," its sticky upper surface catches and holds any pollen grains that fall on it. Beneath the stigma, the long, slender style leads to a round or long chamber called the ovary. Sometimes the pistil has no style, and the stigma rests directly on top of the ovary. The ovules (egg cells) that develop into seeds, grow inside the ovary.
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