Guides
Guides
Stoner Survival Kit: Your Guide To Not Being Ripped Off
When you first begin smoking, the world of weed might seem pretty overwhelming at first. You’ll learn most of what you need to know as you go. Until then, here’s your guide to not being ripped off. Be Chill With Your Dealer Your dealer is your life force and you want to avoid pissing him or her off. Maintain a good relationship with them. That means don’t be too persistent when you are trying to pick up. Remember that your dealer is a person with their own life, which doesn’t revolve around you buying cannabis from them. If they say to call them in three hours, don’t call them three times in an hour. This is bad etiquette, and can also lead to both of you getting caught. Be respectful and they will be good to you. If your dealer wants you to come chill sometime, you should take them up on this offer. Also important is not overstaying your welcome. You don’t want to be a lingerer. Have Your Own Scale If it’s pretty obvious that you are a novice, some dealers might try to get away with selling you a lighter bag. Most people that I’ve dealt with consider this to be an ultimate breach in stoner etiquette and won’t pull this trick, but it does happen, especially if you’re not chill with your dealer (see above). You should definitely get your own scale, if you are going through a person who insists that they know how to eyeball. This is especially important if you are buying in quantity Ask Questions If you are new to the market and not sure what you are buying, ask questions. This will make you seem like you want to learn about the process. If you’re not sure how much should be in a single, ask. When they are weighing it out, ask to see what the scale reads. Tell them you’re curious and trying to be the most responsible smoker you can be. This is better than staying silent. They will assume you don’t really care. Pay Them On Time If you are at the point in your relationship with your dealer, where they allow you to front make sure you pay them on time! Your dealer is showing that they trust you and it is your responsibility to maintain that trust. If you say that you will pay them next Tuesday, you’d better pay them on Tuesday ASAP. Unpaid fronts fall on your dealer and making them pay out of their own pocket will piss them off and ruin your relationship. On the same subject, make sure that you have your money when you go to pick up, especially if you’re just starting out with this person. Don’t try to pull the “Oh, I’m short five dollars, can you spot me just this once,” trick, unless you have a good rapport with your dealer. If you find that you are short, don’t let it happen again. Lastly, pay with large bills, and never pay with change. Learn How To Spot Fake Cannabis I really hope no one pulls this anymore because it is the biggest dick move in the stoner world. Shady dealers might try to sell you oregano mixed with a bit of honey to make it stick together. I’ve seen people try to sell novices catnip. Luckily, both are easy to spot and are recognizable by their smell. Now that synthetic cannabis (aka spice or K2) is around someone might try to trick you with that. Learn how to recognize the appearance and smell of the real deal. Hopefully you never have to deal with someone who is trying to rip you off, but some people are jerks and will try to regardless. If you do end up getting ripped off, then you’ll know what to look for next time. You’ll also know it’s time to find a new dealer. Featured Image Source: CollegeMagazine.com (Pineapple Express Movie) --- Do you have any advice for novices? Let us know in the comments!
5 Ways To Give Yourself A "Higher" High
After you’ve been smoking cannabis for a while you begin to develop a tolerance. That’s just the way your body works. Some stoners just smoke more weed, but this is expensive. Some suggest quitting for a couple weeks to lower your tolerance. Quitting works, but that’s no fun.As it turns out, there are many ways to give yourself a “higher” high, which are also good for you! Take 5-htp Prior To Smoking 5-Hydroxytryptophan is a naturally occurring amino acid and metabolic intermediate which helps stimulate the production of serotonin in the body. 5-Hydroxytryptophan aka 5-htp is also sold over the counter as a nutritional supplement. It is also legal and widely available at stores nationwide. Next time you smoke, try taking two capsules before you plan on getting high. Since 5-htp stimulates serotonin production, you’ll experience more of that euphoric feeling that you got when you first started smoking. Be sure to only take 5-htp as directed. Do not take 5-htp if you are already taking anti-depressants. Eat Fruits Rich In Myrcene Cannabis contains a terpene, or an unsaturated hydrocarbon which helps deliver THC more effectively to the brain. Myrcene is also in mangoes, lemongrass, and hops. The higher the quality of your cannabis, the more myrcene is in it. Try eating a mango or drinking tea containing lemongrass 45 minutes to an hour before you plan on smoking. You might be surprised how much higher you get and how much longer your high lasts. Eat Dark Chocolate There is a reason why stoners always crave chocolate. It’s because cacao and THC work really well together. This is because cacao releases the neurotransmitter anandamide, which is known as the “bliss chemical” in your brain. Why do you think pot brownies work so well? Why dark chocolate? Dark chocolate has a higher percentage of cacao. The higher the cacao, the higher your high. Get Off The Couch Here’s another reason for you to start working out, like you’ve been saying you would do. Doing cardiovascular exercises after you work out, will not only boost your heart rate, it will also boost your high. Recent studies conducted by the University of Sydney in Australia have shown that working out for just thirty minutes after smoking a bowl will not only increase the potency, but also the length of your high. That’s an excellent reason not to sit on the couch and binge watch Netflix. Eat Some Curry Most curries contain a yellow spice known as turmeric. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has been reported to enhance a cannabis high to the point where it feels like the first time you got baked. This is partly because curcumin also works as a mild antidepressant, in addition to being an anti inflammatory. As an added bonus, curcumin is known to help prevent cancer. Go get some Indian food after smoking down. I have tested all of these methods and I can tell you that they not only work, they work really well. Exercise caution when taking nutritional supplements such as 5-htp as they can counteract any current medications you might be taking. Take supplements only as directed, and do not take more than you need. Featured Image Source: Youtube --- Have you tried any of these? Have they worked for you? Do you have any of your own tricks for getting a “higher high?” Let us know in the comments!
Tired Of Hacking Up A Lung? Get Smoother Hits
There are so many enjoyable moments when smoking cannabis, from the exhilaration to the taste, even the smells and sights that come with it, but for all of these enjoyable moments, there is still one moment that can overpower all of the others. A rough draw can leave your throat raw, hot, and might throw you into a crazy coughing fit. If you're going for the largest rips possible, this might be normal for you, and you're cool with it, but if you're just trying to create a more pleasurable toking experience for yourself with some smoother hits, check out these helpful tips! 1. Ice The simplest way to smoothen your hits is to make the smoke cooler. Generally if you're smoking with a waterpipe you're already reducing the temperature with smoke percolating in the water, but many pieces also come with specific notches or holds for ice within the piece for extra cooling. If your piece doesn't have ice catchers, put ice in the base of your piece, or in your gravity bong water, reducing the temperature of the water will work just as well as letting the smoke pass right over the ice. 2. Half-breath, half-hit Many people first start smoking pot with the assumption that stoners always take a full breath of pure, milky smoke. While this is true for many stoners, it's not the whole truth. In fact, many, many, stoners will take half of a breath of clean air before starting their hit. This makes it so that the clean air mixes with the smoke in your lungs so that it isn't as harsh of a hit. This is how I still smoke to this day, and it especially helped me when I first started smoking joints and spliffs! 3. Slower, less powerful draws The faster you try to inhale your hit, the more force you're going to be pulling through the pipe or joint. The more force you have in your inhales, the harsher of a hit you're going to have. When you rush your draw you bring in extreme heat and particulates into your throat and lungs in a rapid manner that can shock your body into coughing, also, the more force you put into your hits the more likely you are to pull some of that bud right back into your mouth or throat. Nothing stops a hit mid-motion like Scooby Snacks do, so just take your time and take some deep, slow, draws for the smoothest experience. 4. Staying hydrated In my time, most of the stoners that I have met were totally unaware that Cotton Mouth can be the effect of toking and dehydration. Staying hydrated while smoking is incredibly important not only for a smoother draw, but to support body health (duh). If you want to have continuously harsh hit after harsh hit, don't drink any liquids, or better yet, drink soda. Water is irreplaceable to soothe your throat and lungs when toking, personally, since starting smoking cannabis I have never gone anywhere without a full water-bottle. 5. Practice, practice, practice. Much of your ability to have a smooth hit will stem from how much experience you have smoking, and how you approach it. Although it is true that the bigger of hits you try to take the more likely it is to be rough, however if you shy away from big hits always, they'll always have that effect. Consider this the 'Trial by Fire' method, taking fat rips may damage your lungs for a few moments, but you'll find that these experiences help forge lungs of steel that can rip it all day long with little worry. Featured Image Source: tumblr --- These are the few big ways that I know how to get a silky smooth hit, but what else can you do for that perfect draw? Let us know in the comments!
How to Smoke Without a Lighter?
Losing your lighter mid-sesh doesn't have to end the night. There are a handful of reliable ways to light a bowl, blunt, or joint without one, from household items you already have to purpose-built lighter-free devices. Here's what actually works, and what to avoid. Why You Might Need to Smoke Without a Lighter It happens more often than you'd think: A lighter runs dry mid-pack, or the flint wears out It gets left behind in another jacket or bag It goes missing between the couch cushions, again Camping trips, power outages, or windy outdoor sessions leave you without a working flame If you're wondering how to light a smoke without a lighter, the best alternative depends on what you have available. Quick Reference: Lighter Alternatives at a Glance Method Difficulty Reliability Best For Hot knives Moderate, takes practice Low to moderate Emergency, at home only Spaghetti noodle / toothpick Easy Moderate Quick fix near a stove Candle Easy Moderate to high At home, controlled setting Matches Easy High Anywhere, if you have them Hemp wick Easy High Everyday backup, once lit stays lit USB arc lighter Easy High Outdoors, windy conditions DynaVap / heat-on-demand Moderate, needs a torch High Frequent flame-free sessions Dry herb vaporizer Easy High Skipping flame entirely Household Items That Work as Alternatives A few common household items can get a bowl lit in a pinch. None of these are as convenient as a lighter, but they'll work when you're stuck. Stove burner and hot knife method: Heat two metal knives directly on a stove burner until they're glowing hot. Use one knife to pick up a small amount of flower and press it against the other. Inhale through a cut-open plastic bottle chilled in the freezer, sometimes called a "freezer buddy," to trap and cool the smoke so less is wasted. This takes practice and is easier with a second person helping, so it's worth trying with a friend before going solo. Dry spaghetti noodle or toothpick: Hold a dry spaghetti noodle to a hot stove burner until the tip catches. Once it's lit, use it the same way you'd use a match to light a bowl, blunt, or joint. A toothpick works the same way, though its shorter length means less margin for error. Candle: Light a candle from a stove burner. Tilt it toward your bowl the way you would a lighter. Fresh candles work best since the wax hasn't pooled yet. Pour off any hot wax onto a heatproof plate first so you're not fighting drips while you're trying to light up. Matches: The simplest fallback if you have any on hand. They're worth keeping in the same drawer as your gear specifically so you're never fully without a backup. Using Hemp Wick or a Fire-Starting Alternative If you want something more reliable than improvised stove tricks, a hemp wick is one of the best middle-ground options. It's a waxed cord you light once with any flame source, including a match or a stove burner. It burns slowly and steadily from there, giving you repeated light without repeated effort. Since it only needs one ignition to keep going, it's a solid option to keep in a bag specifically as a backup for when a lighter isn't available. Electronic & Battery-Powered Alternatives Battery-powered options have come a long way and are worth considering if you want something that doesn't rely on an open flame at all. USB arc lighters: Use an electric arc instead of butane, so there's no fluid to run out of, just a charge to maintain. Work well for bowls and are genuinely windproof, which makes them useful outdoors where a regular flame struggles. DynaVap and similar heat-on-demand devices: DynaVap devices don't use a flame at all in the traditional sense. You heat the tip with a torch or induction heater until it clicks, then draw as it cools, similar in spirit to a vaporizer but without a battery inside the device itself. It's a different category from a simple flame replacement, but it solves the same underlying problem: getting flower hot enough to smoke without carrying a standard lighter. Dry herb vaporizers: If lighting flower directly isn't a requirement, a dry herb vaporizer sidesteps the lighter question completely. These heat flower to a vapor point using an internal battery, so there's no flame, no butane, and no combustion involved at all, just charge it and go. Safety Tips: What to Avoid A few of these methods carry more risk than others, so it's worth being careful about which shortcuts you take. Don't substitute butane with other flammable liquids. Sticking to purpose-built fuel and flame sources is far safer than improvising with anything not designed to be burned near your face. Be careful with open flames near hair, loose clothing, or dry materials. Stove burners, candles, and hot knives all carry real burn risk if you're not paying attention. Let hot metal or wax cool before handling. Knives and candle wax stay hot longer than they look, so give yourself a buffer before touching either. Don't leave a stove burner unattended. Heating knives or lighting a wick only takes a minute, but it's an easy step to forget about once your attention shifts elsewhere. Keep a real lighter or hemp wick on hand when possible. These household methods are solid backups, not a long-term replacement for a reliable flame source. If you'd rather not rely on improvised methods at all, a stocked lighters and torches collection covers reliable, purpose-built options worth keeping around so you're not searching for a workaround in the first place. Bottom Line Running out of a lighter doesn't have to end your session. Stove tricks, hemp wick, and battery-powered devices all get the job done in a pinch, and a dry herb vaporizer sidesteps the problem entirely if you're open to switching things up. Keep a backup method in mind, and a dead lighter becomes a minor inconvenience instead of a dealbreaker.
The Science Behind Gravity Bongs
Most of us have made and used a gravity bong at some point during our smoking sessions. They are easy to make, and require less cannabis than a standard water bong.They are also guaranteed to give you a strong hit and a smooth high. Understanding the science behind gravity bongs will help you construct a better, more efficient gravity bong and make the most of your cannabis consumption. There are two different types of gravity bongs: the bucket bong and the “waterfall” or reverse bucket bong. The bucket bong requires a small bucket, filled close to the brim with clean water, an empty bottle (most smokers prefer a two liter soda bottle), a bottle cap, a rubber stopper, or “bung,” and a bowl (which can be purchased here, if you don't have one already). Once you have these items, drill a hole into the bottle cap. You can also use a knife, but a drill is safer. Cut the bottom off of the bottle, preferably using a serrated knife. How much you want to cut off, depends on how big you want your hit to be. Most smokers prefer to cut just above the bottom of the bottle, for the largest hit possible. Next, you’ll place the bowl with the bung fit snugly around it into the hole in the cap. Make sure that the seal is airtight, otherwise your bong will not work properly. Place the empty bottle into the bucket of water and then carefully screw the cap onto the bottle. You should have packed the bowl by this point. As you light the bowl, slowly pull the bottle out of the bucket. You should see the bottle fill up with thick smoke. You’ll want to pull the bottle up slowly, but not too slowly, or your hit will taste stale and gross. Do not pull the bottle completely out of the water or your hit will be lost, and you’ll be guilty of committing a “party foul." Once you’ve filled the bottle up with smoke, unscrew the cap and push the bottle back down as you inhale. The pressure created from pushing the bottle down forces the smoke into your lungs. Image Source: TheWeedBlog Waterfalls are the same concept except instead of using a bucket full of water, you use an empty bucket and you fill the bottle with water. Instead of cutting off the entire bottom of the bottle, poke one hole in the bottom of the bottle, as close to the center as possible.There is a reason for this, which I will get to later. Make sure the hole is small enough that you can seal it with your finger. When you are cutting the bottle, make sure you have the cap on there so the bottle will hold its shape as you are cutting into it. Construct the bowl the same way you would with a bucket bong, and again make sure the seal is completely airtight. As you are filling your bottle with water, plug the hole at the bottom with your finger so the water doesn’t leak out. After you fill the bottle with water, cap it and light the bowl, while allowing the water the flow from the bottle. The reason you want a hole in the center of the bottle is so that the water is perfectly streamlined as it flows from the bottle. Stabbing random holes in the sides or on the bottom doesn’t allow for perfect water flow so your hit will be more stale, and you’ll lose smoke. When you’ve got as big a hit as you want, unscrew the cap and inhale deeply! Image Source: Pinterest Gravity bongs and waterfalls are an excellent way to smoke because you can still get a good high, while conserving your cannabis. The way that a gravity bong is used and constructed keeps you from losing precious smoke, and the seal keeps your hit fresh and strong. Featured Image Source: YouTube --- How do you prefer to make your gravity bongs? Do you have any tips for us? Let us know in the comments.
Thinking Of Taking A Break From Cannabis? These Resources Will Help You Out!
From stress-relief to pain-reduction, the medical and personal results can change someone's life infinitely for the better. However, cannabis can still be a vice for some people. Whether it be from extended use, the development of an extreme tolerance, you utilize cannabis in an unhealthy manner, or you're simply getting ready to apply for a new job, it's always important to take care of yourself and be responsible with your cannabis use. If you're considering taking a break from your vape or dab rig to reduce your tolerance, or thinking of just making a lifestyle change, check out some of these awesome resources to help you out! 1. /r leaves The subreddit sibling of /r trees, /r leaves has a more direct purpose than just sharing the love of cannabis. /r leaves has the specific goal of helping others whom have reached a point in their lives that they have decided they want to either take a break, or completely stop, utilizing cannabis. The beautiful thing about this subreddit, in my opinion, is that the group is in no way an anti-weed, "Cannabis will destroy you," type of group, just normal people sharing their stories about why they're taking a break. This subreddit includes dozens upon dozens of self-success stories, links to outside websites, and is a thriving self-supporting community that is worldwide, so you'll never be lacking friends going through something similar to you. 2. QuitMarijuana.org This website, despite the cliched name, provides a very useful guide and commentary of reasons why and how you should take a break from cannabis. Although the website will try and get you to sign up for their free e-book, the site still has many accessible pages that list various benefits, plans, and step-by-step actions to help you make the most informed decision about your cannabis break. 3. Marijuana-Anonymous.org This is a marijuana anonymous website for a group based in Australia that focuses on the reduction of cannabis use towards a more positive lifestyle. The website offers helpful guides to lead to a lasting cannabis break, but the advice is also equally applicable for those who just wish to take a few days or weeks away from the leaf. The twelve steps that it provides for the group are fairly general and useful for reminders while on the path of recovery. In addition to these steps, the website has been a worthy recourse of recovery stories. Whenever you feel unsure of how to proceed or what other people go through during the process, the site has dozens of personal stories to relate to. Featured Image Source: AskMen.com --- How often do you end up taking breaks from cannabis? For personal reasons or for employment? Do you have any tips to help us get through our own breaks? Share in the comments!
The 6 Best Marijuana Strains For Creativity
Artists of all types—from William Shakespeare to Miley Cyrus—often credit marijuana as being a key to their creativity. As more research is conducted on how marijuana affects the brain, we're beginning to understand just why creative types enjoy smoking the herb. According to a study carried out by Berkley Medical School, cannabis stimulates creative drive by increasing activity in the frontal lobe of your brain, which triggers artistic and innovative thought. More specifically, sativa-dominant strains are known to provide cannabis users with peppy, energetic highs that inspire them to write, sing, paint and create. Here are some of the best inspiration-inducing sativa strains that might spark your next big idea. It's important to note that no cannabis strains truly produce the same results for everybody. Marijuana itself affects everyone differently and each unique strain may have varying effects on those who consume it. Use this list as a starting point to discover which strains get you creativity to reach peak levels. Who knows, one of your favorite strains might lead you to a stroke of (artistic) genius. Featured Image: Unsplash
The Stems Of My Marijuana Plants Are Purple!
Purple-stemmed marijuana plants can be a bit scary, especially if you‘ve never seen such a sight before. However, rest assured, it probably just looks a lot worse than it really is and is easily remedied. Why purple? If you are an indoor grower, your plant is relatively young with leaves of average size, and the purple stems emanate from the top then that purpling is related to genetics. Some marijuana strains naturally grow purple stems which cause their budding seedlings to appear even more purplish in cooler temps at night. Other strains, especially those that show stems of seedlings that have turned purple, and have no other issues, have been genetically modified to do so. You will notice over time that purpling will come and go depending on climate and other factors. A solution for purple stems Although you may feel worried when seeing purple stems on your marijuana plants for the first time, it’s important not to rush into any changes for the first 1-2 weeks after discovering them. This is particularly important if the plant and its leaves both appear to be otherwise healthy. In many cases, waiting for this period will give the plant ample time to return to its lively green color, if it’s capable. If your plant is experiencing slowed growth, on the other hand, or if its leaves are fading, your plant might have a magnesium deficiency. This nutrient deficiency is one of the most common non-genetic reasons for purple stems. If this is the culprit, fortunately, it is easily treatable. To ensure your plant has the minerals it needs, simply add magnesium in your next watering by carrying out one of these strategies: Use Epsom Salt, by adding one tablespoon per gallon of water. Use Cal-Mag per package instructions. Use a nutrient system that provides time-released magnesium for your plant. If you think the purple stems on your plant can be attributed to a magnesium deficiency, make sure to read our other article about how to best identify magnesium deficiency. Thanks for reading. Please leave comments or questions below and don’t forget to download my free grow bible. Robertwww.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com
Protect Your Marijuana Plants From Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium wilt is a byproduct of fungus. It occurs most often in soil that is either overly rich or not properly drained. Other conditions can cause verticillium wilt to thrive, including excess plant stress. Woody plants with ‘stressed-out roots’ are what attract fungi the most. Because of this, it’s important to be able to identify some of the most elementary of symptoms of a verticillium wilt outbreak. You also need to know, should it occur, how to best address it. Below, you will discover how to do just that. Signs of verticillium wilt Here are some of the most common symptoms of a verticillium wilt infiltration: Leaf symptoms: Yellowing between veins Yellowing of outer margins Gray-brown coloring Plant symptoms: Wilting Browning stem near soil line Clogging of xylem root vessels One of the earliest signs of verticillium wilt is when leaves closest to the base of your plant start yellowing. This first starts happening between the leaves’ veins, and along their outside margins. Although yellowing is an expected early sign of disease, as it progresses, the leaves assume more of a grayish brown color, and your plant will begin to wilt. Once this happens, the stem itself will begin to brown at its base closest to the soil line. If you’re an experienced grower, then you might be familiar with fusarium wilt. Some of the symptoms most commonly associated with fusarium wilt are virtually the same as verticillium wilt. And much like a fusarium wilt, once verticillium wilt has infiltrated a plant’s roots, their xylem vessels clog up. When this happens, your plant can only take in water or nutrients through either its stems or leaves. More on how to recognize verticillium wilt in my free grow bible. How to fix the problem Clearly if at all possible, you want to prevent verticillium wilt whenever you can. One of perhaps the simplest and healthiest ways to prevent the significant spread of this infection is to add some properly aged compost A second option is to grow your marijuana plant using a hydroponic system, as opposed to a soil system. If you must use a soil system, then you will want to use compost as your soil, and make sure to sterilize it by the sun first. This is critical because, once properly cured and sterilized, compost serves as a way to naturally give your plants the proper nutrients they need to thrive. In addition to using compost as your plant’s soil, you also want to pay special attention to your plant’s soil drainage. Ensuring that it is adequate is the most effective way to prevent verticillium wilt. Excess moisture encourages the growth of verticillium wilt and not ridding your plant of excess moisture will easily plague its root systems. Another option for preventing your plant from being infected by verticillium wilt is through crop rotation or deep plowing of your grow site. If you do either one of these before you plant or transplant your seedlings, you want to make sure to add sterilized compost as support to keep the disease at bay. Final things to consider It’s important that once an outbreak of verticillium wilt is suspected, that you take immediate measures to remedy it. This includes removing every bit of plant matter that was affected by the infection. And you need to take extreme caution while doing so, as spores can travel. In taking immediate action upon noticing the earliest of symptoms, and ridding your garden of early infestations, you stand a strong chance of ensuring that the infestation doesn’t spread to the whole garden. When verticillium wilt infiltrates your garden, it remains in your soil for years, making it unsuitable for growing additional plants. Even more, there are currently no products on the market that heal plants infected by verticillium wilt. Because of these concerns, it’s important to do one’s due diligence in following the preventative measures mentioned above when growing your marijuana plants from the start. Thanks for reading. Please leave comments or questions below and don’t forget to download my free grow bible. Robert www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com
Yellow Leaf Spot And Your Marijuana Plants
Yellow leaf spot is also known by the name of leaf septoria. It comes from two fungal pathogens, Septoria cannabis, and S. neocannabina, which specifically affect marijuana plants. There is an unusually high risk for your marijuana plants to become afflicted with yellow leaf spot when the weather is particularly warm and rainy, as well as for plants that do not have adequate amounts of nitrogen. Identifying yellow leaf spot The first place you will likely detect this disease is on the bottom-most leaves of your marijuana plants. Despite its name, yellow leaf spot does not only include yellow spotting of the leaves; white, gray, and brown are also included in the spectrum of symptoms for the affliction. You will at first notice circular lesions on the bottom leaves of your plants, and then the colorful spotting begins. That spot on the leaf will turn into a bump and continue to expand outward until it affects the entire leaf. The spot will increase in size and eventually dry out, therefore drilling a hole in the leaf and negatively affecting the leaf and stem both. Every leaf affected by yellow leaf spot will eventually dry up and drop off the plant, signaling its total death. The plant itself shouldn’t be too devastated by yellow leaf spot, but the yield will decrease significantly if the problem causing yellow leaf spot isn’t fixed as soon as possible. More about yellow leaf spot in my free grow bible. Dealing with yellow leaf spot Whenever you notice the leaves dropping off of your plant, be sure to take action against letting them sit there on the ground. Doing so could encourage spore-borne diseases to live there and then make their devastating appearance once the climate is right. One of these diseases is the yellow leaf spot, which spreads through the wind, water, and the touching of people or animals. Once the weather is nice enough, ‘waiting,’ yellow leaf spot spores will begin to attack your precious marijuana plants. Besides picking up leaves as quickly as possible, rotating the location of your marijuana garden each growing season will help drastically with lowering the risk of yellow leaf spot. If rotation is not a viable option for you, then you may want to simply get all of the plant matter completely away from the site where you planted last (and plan to plant again). Take special precautions to ensure that any residual plant matter isn’t stuck in the soil -- or simply remove some of the soil altogether. Before planting your marijuana plants in your grow location, prepare it with a sterilized compost to start things off well. Alternatively you can try using blood meal, fish meal, or soybean meal to add to the pre-existing soil, making it sterile and healthy. As far as tools go, make sure you properly clean and sterilize them after each use. Fungicide is another effective way to prevent yellow leaf spot -- do this before introducing your seedlings to the grow area. These can easily be homemade or store-bought, so it depends on your personal preferences. Good bacteria (Bacillus Pumilis, for example) will allow your plants to thrive and should fend off some risky invaders, such as yellow leaf spot. For people without compost (and the beneficial bacteria that come with it), ingredients such as cinnamon, coriander, neem, sesame, and clove can come in handy. Properly mix these with essential oils and spray onto the area. Compost tea, baking soda, and trichoderma are other useful options for preventing yellow leaf spot. Thanks for reading. Please leave comments or questions below and don’t forget to download my free grow bible. Robert www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com
Protect Your Marijuana From Fungus Gnats
What are Fungus Gnats? Fungus gnats are tiny (adults are sized at 2 millimeters) pests that consume fungus near the soil. When they run out of fungus, they start to eat the hairs and other parts of your marijuana plant’s roots. This can have serious effects on your plant’s growth, and could lead to changing colors, and higher vulnerability to fungal diseases. They are brown, black or gray, and both males and females both have long legs. Females lay up to two hundred eggs every week. These eggs are found on the lower half of your marijuana plants. Larvae, or maggots, have clear bodies and black heads, but are impossible to see because they are too small. Maggots and adult fungus gnats are equally harmful to your marijuana plants. In addition to eating plant roots, the fecal matter they leave behind is also harmful. The gnat poop causes the soil to hold too much moisture. This, of course, can lead to increased problems with other pests and mold. Fungus gnats are attracted to plants when the soil is overwatered and covered with decaying organic matter. You won’t see the fungal growth because it is too small for human eye detection. But the fungus gnats can see it, and when they do, they will want to feast, and lay eggs on your marijuana plants. This article covers: How to detect fungus gnats on your marijuana plants? How to keep fungus gnats away? How to get rid of fungus gnats? Why is it so important to properly maintain your compost pile? How do you detect fungus gnats on your marijuana plants? First, distinguish fungus gnats from fruit flies. Eradicating those two pests calls for completely different approaches. Keep in mind that: Fungus gnats are dark brown, gray, or black. Fruit flies are brown, yellow, or orange. Fungus gnats are smaller than fruit flies. As soon as you suspect having fungus gnats, you should confirm that is indeed the problem. One of the best ways to check is with yellow sticky cards (available at any garden center). Make sure the cards are yellow since gnats go for that particular color. Place a couple in the soil next to your marijuana plants, and then leave them for several days. Observe and if, after a couple of days, they are covered in gnats, you know that you have a problem. A second, faster way to detect fungus gnats is to cut a potato down to half an inch. Then, stick that cutting into the ground. If it is infested with maggots after 4-8 hours, then you know it has become a problem that needs to be managed. Download my free marijuana grow guide and learn more about fungus gnats Your plants could die from a fungus gnat infestation, especially if it’s a particularly bad infestation or if your plants are quite young. Before they die, however, you will first notice slower growth, leaf discoloration and maybe even symptoms of nutrient deficiencies (that are without apparent cause). If the infestation has particularly the terrible timing and appears right when your plants have begun to flower, the end harvest could be hugely and negatively affected. Sometimes root rot can come as a result of the adult fungus gnats’ feet touching your plant’s roots, which has its own set of devastating effects. Back to top How do you keep fungus gnats away? The best way to keep your crop healthy is to prevent fungus gnats from getting to your marijuana plants in the first place. The easiest way to do that is to avoid overwatering your marijuana plants. If this isn’t your first time growing marijuana at this grow site, and you had a fungus gnat problem during your last season of growth, you need to be absolutely certain that the area is completely cleaned. You should also thoroughly check all clones from other marijuana plants for fungus gnats or other such pests. Unintended transfer is a fairly common, and avoidable, occurrence. Back to top How do you get rid of fungus gnats? You need to get rid of an infestation as soon as it starts, even if negative signs haven't yet shown. While trapping the adults by using the yellow sticky cards is a fairly easy way to remove them, the larvae are not so easy to deal with. The first thing you should do is: Allow the top few layers of soil to dry out completely. This requires a break of a few days in your normal watering schedule, but don’t worry -- it should have no lasting negative effects on your plants. After that, use a solution of one part 3% hydrogen peroxide, and four parts water to “water” your plants. This will keep the gnats away, and have a healing effect on your plants, as the solution turns into oxygen and water. To get rid of the pests as soon as possible, use a fan to speed up the drying process and prevent the fungus gnats from being able to fly around and lay eggs normally. Use food-grade diatomaceous earth over the exposed parts of soil. It will kill the larvae and simultaneously prevent future infestations. Because it is an organic product, its destructive nature towards insects has no negative effects on people or animals. “BT” or “BTi,” which stands for Bacillus Thuringiensis, is a bacteria contained in pest treatments that effectively kills the fungus gnat larvae. It prevents the larvae from eating and, therefore, kills them off effectively. This also will have no harmful side effects to you or your plants. Simply pulverize the store-bought pellets, and sprinkle it on the soil. Be sure to buy the dry (not liquid) version. After treatment, water your plants generously. Once you’ve killed the fungus gnats and their offspring, don’t go back to the way you were doing things before. Clearly you had been overwatering your plants somehow, so be sure to adjust your watering schedule accordingly from now on. More about fungus gnats in my free grow bible. Back to top Why is it so important to properly maintain your compost pile? Compost piles are good and healthy for your plants, but fungus gnats and their offspring often find happy homes in it, too. Pay attention to the state your compost pile before you feed it to your plants. To prevent your compost pile from attracting pests, make sure that it does not retain excess moisture. It should never seem wet, but rather should have the texture of a squeezed-out sponge. If the fungus gnats are already in your compost pile, sprinkle the diatomaceous earth or other treatments mentioned above onto the parts exposed. After treating your compost pile, you should add water to activate the product, and exterminate the fungus gnats and larvae. Once the compost pile is dry again, cover it with a tarp or other plastic cover. Turn it over frequently, and always allow enough time for thorough drying. Thanks for reading. Please leave comments or questions below and don’t forget to download my free grow bible. Robert www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com
The 6 Best Marijuana Strains For Stress
Without the advice of an experienced budtender, previous knowledge of marijuana types, or serious internet research, it can be hard to match your desired cannabis effect to a particular strain, especially when it comes to stress relief. While most strains provide that calming sensation cannabis lovers look for, many users find that each produces slightly different results. The only sure-fire way to discover what strain brings you back to a state of calm is by sampling different buds from your local dispensary and seeing what works best for you. Often associated with anxiety, stress is pervasive in our society. Luckily, there's a natural remedy for it: cannabis. In fact, the stress-reducing effects of cannabis are actually documented by science. More specifically, cannabidiol (CBD) has been found to reduce stress and anxiety, meaning that this plant might be exactly what you need to help you unwind after a long week. This means that sativas are probably your best bet, but if you're feeling a bit stressed and don't know where to start, here are a few strains to try. As more cannabis strains are being developed to highlight the most beneficial aspects of the plant, we're beginning to see strains tailored to specific outcomes like creativity, stress relief and relaxation. Modifications to marijuana like this will help it be seen as a viable medicinal option so that it can provide relief for both recreational and medicinal users. Feeling a bit stressed? Here are a few strains you should start try. Feature Image: Pe3k / Shutterstock
