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Guides
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
Mealybugs and Your Marijuana Plants
Mealybugs, dependent upon whether they are male or female, not only look differently but behave differently as well. When it comes to male mealybugs, they have wings and their sole purpose for existing is to mate and multiply. Female mealybugs have legs, but no wings. Both only have the potential of growing to the size of a human fingernail. For your marijuana plants, female mealybug’s main goal is to find the crevices in your plants and adhere themselves to them. To do this, they create a wax-like protective layer over themselves that protects them from harm while they feed on your plant’s juices. Aside from a protective layer that they place on their bodies, ants too can serve as protectors of mealybugs as they feed. This article covers: Signs of a mealybug problem Fixing a mealybug problem Signs of a mealybug problem If you find ants on your plants, there’s a good chance that you have an infestation of mealybugs. Mealybugs are white and look like puffy clumps of a cotton-like substance. They tend to remain part of a tight knit grouping. When an infestation becomes rampant, small white colored colonies, known as clumps, will pop up on stems within the crevices and stems of your plants, there will be yellowing and dropping off your plant’s leaves and potentially dead ants on and around your plant. While the existence of ants is good in that they ward off predators and parasites that might come along, it signifies that a much larger infestation might be in the works. Once an infestation takes place, it will quickly grow to be out of hand and leaves will start falling off, in essence, ruining your harvest. More about mealybugs in my free grow bible. Back to top Fixing a mealybug problem Because they will eat all of your plants if given the chance; the only way to try to prevent damage to your crop is to institute measures to keep the mealybugs away in the first place. Some proven techniques to follow in keeping them away include: Utilizing a concentrated stream of water to spray the bugs off your plants Crushing the mealybugs Rubbing mealybugs off plants using a cloth Applying rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover to a cotton swab and swabbing bugs off plants Applying soap or an oil-based product For those interested in more organic techniques for remedying a mealybug infestation, we recommend spraying neem, cinnamon, or garlic oil onto the plant itself. When done on a cloudy day on both the top and bottom of the leaf, this technique keeps the mealybug population under control to maximum efficiency. You might also elect to create a solution using a combination of these oils or another one utilizing a mixture of five tablespoons of pure castile soap with two tablespoons olive oil. Once mixed with a gallon of water, the oil component of this solution is particularly effective at sticking onto the plant, thus creating a barrier on the plant to which the mealybug has difficulty adhering. In this case, utilizing bottled as opposed to hard water ensures that your plants do not get water spots on them. Add a teaspoon of garlic or ground red pepper to this mixture - it is even more effective in warding off mealybugs. Further considerations Should the techniques mentioned above not work for you, it’s important to remember the value of ladybugs in keeping pets out of your garden. Because ladybugs are natural combatants to mealybugs and other pests, they are particularly effective at doing away with an infestation because of their ability to eat them up. By following the strategies above that have been laid out for destroying mealybug colonies, you are well on your way to protecting your crop from destruction. Thanks for reading. Please leave comments or questions below and don’t forget to download my free grow bible. Robert www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com
When Ants Affect Your Marijuana Plants
For those who are not already aware, ants are tiny 6 legged insects. They can range in size and come in many different variations. The smallest of the bunch are sugar ants, and carpenter ants can grow up to half an inch in size. You will usually see ants in places where there is food lying around in the home. Sugar is what ants usually like the most. They take this substance to their homes where the queen ant resides. The average person tends to think of ants in this way, but don’t neglect considering an ants ability to find their way to your precious marijuana plants. If they do, it can be a bit harmful to your plants. This article covers: Ways to know ants are present Solving ant problems Symptoms of ants Ways to know ants are present Ants are typically first attracted to marijuana plants because of the honeydew emitted from whiteflies and aphids. If present, they provide environmental advantages to the whiteflies and aphids. Whiteflies and aphids release honeydew that ants like and, as a result, will actually offer protection for these damaging insects from their natural enemies. So if you see ants around then, you can be sure that most likely your issue is bigger than just the ants. The ants are not necessarily an immediate threat to marijuana plants. There is, however, a strong possibility that aphids or white flies have taken over the area. This other issue with having ants around is that they cause issues for your garden. Ants use large amounts of soil to create their homes and this may affect your plants ability to consume nutrients and water while also weakening the condition of the soil. This can mean problems for your plants roots. More about ants in my free grow bible. Back to top Solving ant problems Since ant mounds create issues for your marijuana plants, you’ll want to do something about them immediately. You should first force the whiteflies and aphids away since they are a major part of your problem. Ants come around just because they want the honeydew so once the other predators are gone, the ants will leave too. You can reduce the number ants present through a variety of methods. These methods will also rid your garden of all other insect problems as well. Try sprinkling corn meal into the entry points of the ant mounds. Ants will attempt to eat the corn meal and end up dying since their bodies are not capable of consuming it. Their death benefits us all because, due to the aeration the ants put in the soil combined with the dead ants, the soil has even more nutrients. Back to top Symptoms of ants - Plants appear to lack water - Whiteflies near your plants - Aphids in the area You notice ants crawling on the plants - Big soil packed mound near the plants Locating the presence of ants is not always easy since they are tiny. However, even if the ants are all over the place, you can probably find their home. All you need to do is track where they are going to or traveling from, and from there you can figure out where their homes are. Use this trick to get rid of your ant problem and free your marijuana plants once again. Thanks for reading. Please leave comments or questions below and don’t forget to download my free grow bible. Robert www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com
What To Do About Whiteflies On Your Marijuana Plant
You can tell if your plant is infested with whiteflies by shaking the plant. When you do, you will see something that looks like winged white dust flying around. This is how you know whiteflies are present. Chlorosis is another sign that your marijuana plant is being harmed by whiteflies. Chlorosis is a deficiency that cause the plants leaves to turn yellow. The leaves will become dry starting near the borders, and next thing you know they will fall off. You may also notice a decrease in plant growth. This article covers: Solving whitefly problems Symptoms of whiteflies Solving whitefly problems Whiteflies infest in large numbers, making it hard to control them, and to make matters worse they are not affected by pesticides. You will fare better by simply taking the necessary steps to prevent them in the first place. One way to keep whiteflies away is companion planting. Basically, you will plant zinnia or marigolds nearby and it will force them away from your yard. If you add zinnias to your garden, they will attract a whiteflies’ natural enemy, such as hummingbirds, wasps and flies. These predators will eat them, making it an easy solution. You can also use bee balm, hummingbird bush, and pineapple sage to ward off whiteflies. This works because they give off a minty smell that covers up the scent of the plants these pests like – including marijuana. You can also try misting your plants with a garlic oil solution, just like what people use on aphids. There’s also an oil spray made from two tablespoons of vegetable oil and one gallon of water. If you use this, pour the solution into a spray bottle and mist the plants with more attention to the places underneath the leaves. You will need to do this twice a week until the whiteflies are gone. More about pests in my free grow bible. Back to top Symptoms of whiteflies - Leaves turn yellow - Leaf edges are drying - Leaves become brittle - White spots underneath leaves - Plant growth decreases Whiteflies are your plants least favorite pest so keep an eye out for them. You should always look under the leaves and shake your plant often to make sure there are no signs of whiteflies. If you ever see them, quickly take the necessary steps to force them out of your garden. Thanks for reading. Please leave comments or questions below and don’t forget to download my free grow bible. Robert www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com
Watering Your Marijuana Plants Improperly
Improper watering can come from a lot of reasons. Some include the size of the plant and volume of the container, the root system, the grow room or outside temperature, how humid the air is, and how mature your plant is. If your plant is large, it will need more water, and vice-versa. If your plant is in a container that is quite large, you won’t need to water as often or cover as much space with the water. If the temperature is high, more water is required; if the humidity is also high, however, less water is required. Plants in the midst of their flowering period won’t need as much water. All of these factors come into play when you are trying to establish how much water your marijuana plants need. But, the most important thing to pay attention to is any signs that your plant might be exhibiting, showing that it is receiving too much or too little water. If it doesn’t have the right amount of water, your plant’s health could be at risk. Back to top Underwatering The two risks to pay attention to are overwatering and underwatering. Underwatering is the easiest to identify and fix, but if it goes on too long, then your plant will slow down its growth and eventually die. If your plant is wilting (as opposed to drooping), it doesn’t have enough water. This can be fixed simply by watering your plants more -- whether it’s more often, more frequently, or both. Download my free marijuana grow guide and learn to grow like a pro! The main thing to remember when adding more water to thirsty plants is to do so without any fertilizer. Fertilizers can worsen the problem. You should make sure the water has a balanced pH level and doesn’t have anything added to it. Back to top Overwatering Overwatering is, unfortunately, a relatively common problem, especially among new marijuana growers. The key is to recognize it early on and then take action right away. You will know your plants are being overwatered if their leaves are drooping (not wilting) and your plant just generally appears exhausted and lacking its former health and vibrancy. Note: drooping leaves are completely curled while wilting leaves just have the tips curling. With overwatering or underwatering, growth will slow down. In the case of overwatering, this is because there isn’t enough oxygen for the plant to function properly. An easy way to avoid overwatering is by first checking the soil to ensure it is dry by putting a finger an inch within the top layer of soil. If the soil is totally dry, it is safe to water your plants. If you check this multiple times and it is not getting any drier, then there is likely a problem with the drainage in the container, or else you are watering too much or too often. One technique to see if a container-grown plant is ready for more water is just to lift up the container. If it feels light enough, it is probably dry and ready for a watering. If it’s heavy, there is likely still plenty of water left in the pot. This is a tricky technique for some people at first, especially if they are unfamiliar with how heavy or light the pot normally is. An easy way to get used to it is to have a pot next to it that is filled with the same type of soil (or other growing medium). Keep that pot unwatered and unplanted, making it an easy comparison to see what the weight of a “light,” dry pot is. Simply lift each one and see if they are the same weight. After a while, you should no longer need this extra pot to feel the weight; you will have trained yourself to feel for yourself whether the pot is dry or not. Download my free marijuana grow guide and learn to grow like a pro! Once you recognize the fact that your plants are being overwatered, you will need to take immediate action. For container-grown marijuana plants, check the drainage holes and clear them out if necessary. Or, if you realize that there aren’t drainage holes at all, quickly cut some into the bottom of your pot -- without them your plants simply won’t be able to survive. If drainage holes aren’t the source of the issue, your soil might be made up of particles that are too small and don’t allow water to move through them easily and freely enough. Test this by seeing how long it takes for any water to drain out the bottom after watering the soil -- if it takes longer than a minute, then you need to compensate by watering less frequently. Next time, choose soil that is more aerated or is coarser. An outdoors growing area comes with its own sets of difficulties, depending on your location and what the natural soil is like. If the soil is more clay-based, it won’t drain the water very efficiently. This means any amount of rainfall could have a stronger and longer lasting effect. Compensate by changing the frequency or amount of watering that you do. You can also lower the moisture level within soil by poking holes in the top layer with a writing utensil. If you have overwatering problems and you are growing your marijuana plants in a hydroponic system, the problem is actually in the roots rather than the water. It is highly possible that a lack of oxygen is to blame, so either install an air pump or add in air stones to remedy the issue. If you aren’t growing your plants in a hydroponics system, the problems you’re seeing could still be related to root issues rather than directly from watering problems. Root rot, for example, leads to wilting or drooping of the leaves of your marijuana plants, which can cause new (or even more experienced) growers to misdiagnose what is really the cause. Thanks for reading. Please leave comments or questions below and don’t forget to download my free grow bible and/or visit us at Ilovegrowingmarijuana.com Robert www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com
