Marijuana Grower's Handbook

by Ed Rosenthal

  9. Be polite but ˚rm.

  10. Do not resist physically.

  BE A GOOD CITIZEN, NEIGHBOR, AND FRIEND

  One of the easiest ways to get busted is to make other people hate you. At the slightest suspicion that you are growing, they will likely snitch. Make polite small talk with your neighbors and avoid confrontation.

  Stay on your neighbors’ good side. Do not host loud parties or receive late-night visitors. Keep your vehicle clean and registered; do not allow it to become an eyesore or nuisance. Be careful where and how you park; more than one grower has been busted over disputes with the neighbors about parking or noise.

  Pay your taxes, your bills, and your rent or mortgage on time. Keep debt collectors away from your house, and keep the feds out of your finances.

  Keep the interior of your home and car clean and tidy. The cleaner the vehicle or space, the less there is to search in the event that you are busted. Create private, sealed spaces not only for the garden but for your stash and the equipment you use regularly.

  GUNS—DON’T HAVE THEM

  Regardless on your position on the Second Amendment, your gun can and will be used against you in a court of law. Sentencing enhancements for having a gun if you’re busted growing are serious.

  BE WARY OF YOUR INTERNET PRESENCE

  The trend with every new generation of online social networking is increased connectivity. More people are publicly sharing photos of themselves using and growing marijuana. Even if the DEA or your local law enforcement had the time, money, and manpower to sift through every online profile or trace incriminating evidence back to you computer’s IP address, they probably still wouldn’t. A more likely situation is that, once you’ve aroused suspicion, what you put online will be used to get a warrant and if you’re busted what is on your hard drive can and will be used against you.

  Earlier I mentioned that for every person you tell about your garden assume you just told ten. Similarly, for every person online with whom you share pictures or information from your garden, assume that millions in the world may see it. Social networking is not just a way for people to stay in touch; it is a highly effective way to spread information, including your secrets. Be careful what information you post online or access through a computer. You leave an electronic trail.

  SOCIAL NETWORKING PROFILES

  Sharing your grow online is risky. On the other hand, the internet has provided gardeners around the world the opportunity to share tips, tricks, and advice, which helps us all become better growers. A good way to minimize your risk online is to set up specialized social networking accounts and email addresses. If you have pictures of yourself and personal communication on one account, create a separate one for your garden. A search of your computer can still find the account, but it makes evidence gathering a lot more difficult.

  Start by creating a separate email account that you use ONLY for social networking profiles, forums, and websites associated with marijuana. Treat this email account like a phone you know is tapped. Never share specifics about your grow, your identity, or the names of anyone you know. Keep communication brief and inconspicuous. It is safer to not use the email account to communicate at all; just use it as a dummy account to register with websites, informational forums, and your social networking pages.

  MEMORIZE THIS:

  1. DO NOT CONSENT TO ANY SEARCH.

  2. REPEAT LOUDLY, "I DO NOT WANT TO TALK TO YOU. I WANT TO TALK TO AN ATTORNEY."

  3. DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING A COP SAYS, ON OR OFF THE STAND.

  4. DON'T SIGN ANY STATEMENTS REGARDING THE "CRIME."

  Social networking sites have trended towards “micro-blogging"— brief but highly public diary-style communication. This type of information can definitely arouse suspicion and is virtually impossible to protect. Do not share any grow information through these websites.

  KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

  If worse comes to worst and you have a law enforcement encounter, be sure to exercise your rights: do not answer questions, and never consent to any search.

  You have the right to remain silent, and anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Don't forfeit this right. Simply state, "I don't want to talk with you. I want to talk to an attorney." Let your lawyer decide what is appropriate to say to the police, not your own intuition.

  PART III QUICK POINTS: SETTING UP THE GARDEN

  SOIL

  Plants grown in containers require more care and attention. Rather than working with the natural environment, or at least a semblance of it, when plants are growing in containers you control the space the roots have, as well as the water conditions and nutrients. Container size plays a roll in determining the growth, final size and yield of the plant.

  Roots anchor a plant in place and supply the plant with water and nutrients. Using a complex series of bio-chemical processes, the roots gather nutrients and release sugars and enzymes into the environment.

  Always test the soil to find out its requirements before preparing the soil for planting. For marijuana plants, the soil should test high in the three macro-nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K).

  Regardless of the particular composition of your soil, its texture is critically important to healthy pants. Texture refers to a soil’s density, particle size, and stickiness, all of which affect the soil’s ability to hold or drain water. Root health and ultimately plant health relies mainly on its soil’s drainage ability. Well-drained soil allows roots to be in contact with both water and air, the ideal condition for healthy growth.

  The pH of the soil determines the solubility of nutrients and affects the plant’s regulation of its metabolism and nutrient uptake.

  Things to Know

  •Roots supply the plant with water and nutrients. Using a complex series of biochemical processes, the roots gather nutrients and release sugars and enzymes into the environment.

  •The pH determines the solubility of nutrients and affects the plant’s regulation of its metabolism and nutrient uptake. Slightly acidic soils with a pH range from 5.8-6.5 are regarded as marijuana friendly.

  •Medium-textured soils—soils that drain well but can also hold an adequate amount of water—are best for cannabis. Loams, silts, and sands drain well and are usually loose enough to encourage healthy root development. Many clays and mucks are too compacted for lateral roots to penetrate, and when dry clay soils form hard crusts or clods, marijuana plants simply cannot thrive.

  HYDROPONICS

  Water is one of the five limiting factors. Plants react to the environment by adjusting their growth. The difference in growth between a plant receiving adequate water and one that has limited access may not be immediately apparent, especially if they are in different gardens. The adequately irrigated plant grows larger faster and yields more, but matures slightly later than aplant on water rations.

  Hydroponics is the method of gardening in which plants are supplied with nutrients through solution in water. The plants are grown in regular containers filled with non-nutritive planting mix and watered by hand, overhead drip system or using a capillary mat. Nutrients are supplied using a nutrient/water solution.

  Plant size and yield are determined to a great extent by the development of the root system. Even plants that are receiving copious quantities of water and nutrients require enough room for their roots to grow and spread out in order to reach their full potential.

  Hydroponic systems are water savers because no water seeps below the root level and none is lost to capillary action. Virtually no water is lost to evaporation since the growing units are enclosed on top. The plant uses virtually all the water going into the reservoir.

  Things to Know

  •Hydroponic systems fall into one of two broad categories: passive or active. Passive systems such as reservoir or wick setups depend on capillary action to make water available to the plant. Active systems, including ebb and flow, nutrient flow technique (NFT) and deep-water culture, use a pump to p
rovide the plants oxygenated water and nutrients.

  •The principle that drives passive hydroponic systems is capillary action, the same chemistry that draws water up a napkin. As the water is removed from the medium, in some cases a wick, the water molecules above draw neighboring molecules towards them to maintain the electrical charge and ultimately equalize water tension. As a result, with no work on your part, the wick maintains moisture by drawing up water as needed.

  SECURITY

  There are a few guidelines to follow to keep your secret garden a secret: Keep your mouth shut, don’t act suspicious, respect Mother Nature, keep your indoor grow space clean, safe, and up to code, control the odor, be a good citizen, neighbor, and friend, be wary of your Internet presence and most importantly, know your rights!

  The legality of your garden varies by location, and in most places is a legal gray area.

  If worst comes to worst and you have a law enforcement encounter, be sure to exercise your rights. Do not answer questions, and never consent to any search. You have the right to remain silent, and anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Do not forfeit this right. Let your lawyer decide what is appropriate to say to the police, not your own intuition.

  Things to Know

  •Police and their agents don’t have to admit they’re cops if they’re asked directly.

  •The perceptions of you and your home are vital to the security of your garden. Keep your yard clean and trimmed, keep your grounds and property safe, and most importantly, have a reason to have so many garden supplies! A house with cement in the front and back yards and a trash can full of garden supplies may be more than a little bit suspicious.

  •There are several ways to eliminate cannabis odor: carbon filters, negative ion generators, odor absorbing gels, and ozone generators.

  GETTING STARTED

  INDOORS

  The lights are in position. The growing unit, hydroponic system or planting containers are in place. Fans are installed in the space as appropriate to provide air circulation. A CO2-enrichment or ventilation system is set up to provide a continuous source of CO2 during the lit period.

  Temperature and humidity are controlled with sensors and automatic systems using air coolers, air conditioners or a ventilation system using filtered outdoor air.

  You should also be prepared to monitor the nutrient mix by measuring either the parts per million (ppm) of nutrients, the electrical conductivity (EC) of the solution, or the total dissolved solids (TDS). You have a pH meter or test kit to measure pH. A surface temperature meter and a light meter are also useful.

  GREENHOUSES

  The greenhouse is in working order. Vents, openings, misters, swamp coolers, or other cooling methods are operable, preferably on an automatic system controlled by a thermostat. Any supplemental lighting is in place to increase the intensity of the light during low-light months. (A 1000w lamp covers an area of 30-100 sq ft (9-30 sq m), while a 600w lamp is good for 30-65 sq ft (2.75-6 sq m).

  Lighting may also be used to interrupt the dark with short periods of light to prevent plants from flowering too early. These lamps are used when daylength is short.

  If soil is being used, the planting beds or containers have nutrients and soil amendments mixed in so they are ready to plant. If a hydroponics unit is being used, it has been set up and is ready to plant.

  Marijuana initiates flowering based on the length of the dark period. Interrupting the dark with short periods of light prevents undesired flowering.

  Optionally, blackout curtains are installed. They are used to force flowering out of season. This way, a harvest can be scheduled for mid-summer, when UVB light is strongest, producing the best flowers. With planning, greenhouses can yield two or three harvests annually.

  OUTDOORS

  The ground, planting holes, or raised beds are prepared and ready to be planted. In dry areas where there is little rainfall during the summer, irrigation is required to grow crops, so the water is sourced and ready to flow. If the plants are to be forced early, the frames and blackout curtains have been installed.

  Everything is set.

  Let’s give this garden life!

  SEEDS OR CLONES?

  There are two ways to start a garden—using either seeds or clones.

  SEEDS

  Seeds have several advantages:

  •Plants from seeds grow a better taproot than clones. The taproot is the equivalent of the main stem. It grows straight down with lateral branches growing along its length. A deep taproot reaches the water table or moist soil at a lower level of topsoil or penetrable subsoil.

  •Seeds are free from disease and pests, including viruses. Clones can transfer both pests and disease.

  •You know you have the variety you wanted when it comes from the seed company.

  •Seeds are the product of sexual reproduction so they inherit genetic characteristics from both parents. Plants from seed exhibit some genetic variation, so you can choose the best plant or the one you like the most. Growing from seed is more adventurous, because you are not sure exactly how the plants will turn out.

  This seedling’s taproot will continue to descend vertically unless it is obstructed. The lateral roots grow from the side of the taproot.

  •Seeds of many varieties are readily available in shops, dispensaries, by mail and over the internet. When they come from a seed company, you can have confidence in getting a variety with the basic characteristics you want.

  •They are very portable and easy to store for long periods of time.

  Seeds have several disadvantages:

  •Marijuana has separate male and female plants. Unless they are used for breeding, males are of no use and are dangerous pollinators that endanger the potency of the female flowers with the risk of pollination.

  •Usually about half the plants are males that have to be detected and removed. This can be an arduous task and the consequence of missing one can be seedy buds throughout the garden.

  FEMINIZED SEEDS

  Feminized seeds have been bred to produce only females plants. They are the solution to the problem of sexing males since all the plants are females.

  Germinating seeds is a more delicate operation than transplanting clones.

  Seeds take longer to grow and be ready to flower because rooted clones are already biologically mature and have a headstart on root development.

  Plants from seeds don’t reproduce exactly their parents’ traits. Seeds from a variety you saw and tasted will not grow to be exactly the same as their mother, though it will be a close approximation.

  This stem was taken from a clone that was grown for three months in a container. It shows growth of lateral roots but no dominant taproot.

  Because you will discard roughly half of the plants once they can be sexed, growing from seeds can more easily put you over any legal plant count limits, or leave you with fewer plants than allowed or anticipated.

  CLONES

  There are many benefits to working with clones:

  •Clones are taken from female plants so they are female, too. There are no males or hermaphrodites to mess with the buds.

  •Clones get you past the germination “hump” that seeds present. Seeds take several weeks to catch up to a rooted to replace plants as they are placed into flowering.

  Notice how the roots of the three-month-old plant wound around the side the pot. The plant was “rootbound” which stunts its total growth.

  The lateral roots from this clone plant moved outward laterally until they reached the container and then they circled around.

  Disadvantages of clones:

  •Clones are only available commercially in some states that have medical marijuana laws.

  •Clones of the particular variety that you would like are not always available, even where they are legal.

  •Clones can carry diseases and pests that can infect your whole garden. Clones from friends are more likely to be infected than profess
ionally grown clones.

  Major disadvantages for outdoor growers:

  •Clones do not grow as vigorously as seed grown plants, especially outdoors, because clones do not grow a taproot. They only grow secondary roots from the stem and subsequently most of their growth is lateral rather than downward. The main advantage of having a taproot is the ability to dig deep into the ground and reach water not available closer to the surface. The taproot grows lateral branches along its entire length providing the plant with a network of roots that occupies a larger three-dimensional area. The result is that there are more roots in several layers of soil so they can obtain more water and nutrients to support the plant’s growth. This doesn’t affect plants grown inside as much because the plants don't grow as large and the taproot isn’t as important in a container environment.

  •The taproot on plants grown from seed is an extension of the stem so it anchors the plant and holds the canopy securely. Clone plants have a single layer of lateral roots. The stem ends close to the soil line, where it was cut. This doesn’t provide as much support as a plant with a taproot.

  Seed plants have a taproot that is an extension of the main stem and grows downward. Lateral roots grow out laterally from the taproot, which is a direct transport route to the canopy. Clone plants never had a taproot. They develop a set of lateral roots from the side of the stem. The roots grow down a bit but they are adapted to having lateral roots, not the strong root that grows from seed. Outdoors, or indoors with older plants, one or two lateral roots may become dominant and develop into short tap roots that help to anchor the plant and also produce lateral roots. Their connection to the stem is reinforced from layers of growth.