Trouble reading today's article? Click here: Issue #188 - Sunday, November 29, 2015 Dear Fellow
Grower, In today's issue... - What's better than having the right tool for the job? Trick question! Having the
right tool for the job is one of our biggest strengths as humans!
- Through the magic of the internet, you can get any of these tools dirt cheap and without having to do battle in pre-holiday crowds!
- Today we're featuring some beautiful early-flower buds growing in
a Space Bucket. If you don't know what a Space Bucket is, see the DIY stealth system in action below!
Nebula Haze & Sirius Fourside (founders of GrowWeedEasy.com) "The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools."
~
Confucius
Cool Growing Tools You Might Not Know About by Sirius Fourside |
One of the toughest parts of becoming good at growing cannabis - or pretty much any other skill for that matter - is learning how to improvise. At some point in every grower's career, they will run into a problem that needs a custom-tailored solution. When there’s
nothing available that can easily rectify a problem, being able to improvise a solution that makes both you and your plants happy is the next best thing.
But the goal of this article isn’t to teach you improvisation skills, in fact we’re going to do the opposite!
Instead, I want to show you some weird/cool tools I’ve found that can solve some of the unique problems we growers
run into. Although being able to improvise is a must-have skill, it’s just as important to know when to use the right tools. No one wants to spend lots of time and effort to fix a problem when there is a $1 solution that can do the job more effectively. So let’s get to those tools!
Plant Yo-Yos
|
|
|
Plant yo-yos (also sometimes called "plant supports") are one of those tools that you would never think of until they’re suggested. Once you’ve
needed a plant yo-yo and experienced their usefulness, there’s no going back! Essentially, plant yo-yos provide a way to have the top of your grow tent support the weight of your buds. Some heavily trained cannabis plants (such as with manifolding) can produce long colas that are so heavy that they fall over from their own weight. When this happens, you can support them from above with string or wire, but it’s messy in addition to feeling clumsy.
Plant yo-yos use a small plastic hook to gently grab onto a
piece of stem, so they support the plant while touching as little of it as possible. They also extend and retract via a spring; once they’re installed at the top of your tent, adjusting them takes only a few seconds. If you have problems with your buds falling over from weight, this is the best solution I’ve seen so far!
Chip Clips/Bag
Clips You’ve probably seen these before in your house or maybe in an infomercial. Basically, these are a softer version of a binder clip and they’re used to keep potato chip bags closed so your chips stay
fresh.
It turns out they’re also great for holding together the slack in your ducting!
If your exhaust fan stays in one place (it should) and your grow light moves, you will need to leave slack in your ducting to accommodate for the distance as your light and fan move away from each other. Although managing that slack
can typically be a pain, two chip clips will solve the problem within a few seconds. Additionally, most bag clips/chip clips have rubber where they actually grab on to material. This rubber is better for ducting since it tends to make fewer tears (none for me) than metal would.
Liquid/Water Transfer Pump A liquid transfer pump (also called a 'water transfer pump') is typically used to empty out aquariums or transfer gas between containers and a vehicle. If you're growing cannabis in a DWC (Deep
Water Culture) or similar setup, this type of tool can turn the often arduous job of changing your reservoir water into a quick 5 minute task.
This type of water transfer pump pictured here is a "battery operated siphon liquid transfer pump," and it can be used anywhere. This means that people who grow hydroponically don't have to plan their grow area for the sake being able to empty/fill their reservoir
more easily.
It also means that there is much less lifting to be done overall; a crafty grower could potentially empty their reservoir, mix new nutrients, and then refill their reservoir without ever having to lift a single cup of water.
Twist Tie Twist ties are what Americans formerly used to close up trash bags. Nowadays they’re used for pretty much everything but closing up trash bags! When it comes to growing, twist ties are a welcome guest in
our home and they are one of the most efficient tools available for LST (low stress training) and other methods of training.
We use twist ties in two varieties: - Regular twist tie is great for training young cannabis plants and it’s equally great at training new
growth on growing plants. Bigger stems, however, can break loose from twist ties in a matter of hours depending on how fast they grow. Twist ties can also damage stems that grow too big if they're twisted on. Make sure to not secure twist ties by twisting them; gently wrapping the twist tie is a better method because it will pop off before it ever starts "choking" stems.
Don't twist these on because it can "choke" your plants! Gently wrap twist tie around stems like a hook, and attach the other side to your container.
- Soft wire ties are actually the heavy duty version of twist ties despite their name. They’re called ‘soft’ because the wire they contain is coated in rubber so it won’t damage plants. Although you shouldn’t try to bend a rigid stem, soft wire ties are the better wire to use when training plants that give more resistance. Soft
ties also hold their shape better than regular twist tie
Tape (Scotch, Duct, Electrical) Tape?! Sacrilege! Who would put tape on their cannabis?!
Any grower trying to fix a broken stem, that's
who!
Cannabis is a very hardy plant and it’s capable of bouncing back from lots of stress and damage. However, this can work against growers as a stem that’s broken and not set right will heal in the position it’s in. In such a case, a grower can lose the top half of the broken stem when it could’ve been recovered.
That’s where tape comes in. All that’s needed is enough tape to keep the stem in its natural position until it can heal. Tape is basically a temporary splint or cast you can use to support the stem while it heals.
In some cases (especially in hydroponics), broken stems that are given a ‘tape-cast’ can be healed and back to growing within the span of a week! Think of tape as a temporary cast for your plants! Always remove tape after the injury heals.
Much like regular twist
tie, making a tight tape-cast on a stem and leaving it indefinitely can limit the growth of the stem above the cast if it’s too tight. Make sure that you check broken stems regularly and only leave tape on for as long as it’s needed.
Rope Ratchets My first grow lights were a bunch of CFLs that I suspended in my closet with nylon rope. It did the job, but it was insanely clumsy and just as frustrating whenever I needed to move the lights up or down.
Although I moved past CFLs eventually, I still used nylon rope to suspend my lights for way too long before I found rope ratchets.
Rope ratchets are self-locking pulleys that make moving your grow lights about 100X easier. Instead of having to untie rope, move your light, and retie rope all while possibly dropping equipment, you can make minor or major height adjustments with very little effort. Rope
ratchets are a must have for any grow setup and have superior performance/ease of use compared to the ubiquitous rope or chain.
Nutrient Pumps
When you’re mixing nutrients, which is the one that gives you the most trouble?
I would guess that it’s most likely
the micro-nutrients that give you the most trouble.
If you’re like me, the reason for this trouble is that the viscosity of many micro-nutrients makes them hard to pour. Instead of it pouring out smoothly, it clings to bottle and drips everywhere it can.
Nutrient pumps are a way to get around this problem, effectively making it so you don’t have to pour a nutrient if you don’t want to.
All you do is replace the standard screw on cap with with the nutrient pump, and now you have more control over how the much you get and how fast it comes out.
Keep in mind that this is a solution for those who use more nutrients; these growers are likely using large containers/reservoirs for their plants. If you're looking for something smaller, there's a very
convenient solution...
Industrial Syringe (Printer Refill Syringe) An industrial syringe can be a very helpful tool to a grower. Not only do they help make sure you're using precise amounts of whatever liquid you're measuring, but they make liquids easy to
dispense.
In fact, industrial syringes are so helpful at this job, that the only downside I see to using them is the inherent scariness that comes with something we associate with needles.
However, it's very important to note that industrial syringes aren't needles - they're actually called 'blunt tip industrial
syringes'! These industrial syringes are purposefully made to be blunt since they aren't made for injections. They're about the same level of danger as a butter knife in that they have a pointy side.
Watch me poke my hand with one! [Spoiler: Nothing happens! 5.5MB .gif]
I was initially hesitant to try this tool since I'm not a huge fan of needle shaped objects! But a reader named 'JP' got me to try it and now I can't go back to using measuring spoons. It's not that
measuring spoons aren't useful...in fact, they're great for measuring! But this tool makes liquids easier to use with a bit more control. pH Up, pH Down and micronutrients are great examples of liquids that let industrial syringes really shine.
Being able to accurately measure the amount of pH up/down you use (down to the mL) makes it easier for growers to quickly adjust their water to the right pH
level. And since a little bit of pH up/down goes a long way, this can help to prevent growers from overcorrecting pH. More importantly though, it helps make the next pH correcting much quicker. For example, I know that I can put in 11.5mL of pH down to bring my tap water to about 5.9. With a measuring spoon, it had a good general amount to use (about 2.25tsp), but using a syringe makes for much more consistent pH in addition to taking less time.
There are 4 bonus items on our list of cool tools!
|
These cool tools make for easier grows which in turn makes for easier
bud!
Plus you can get them on Amazon, so no hectic/stressful shopping experience is necessary! |
|
"I wanted to thank you for the wealth of information on your website without it I would not have succeeded. the many hours I have spent reading is rewarding as it is enjoyable. thank you once again best wishes in all future endeavors."
-WDF |
Trophy Pictures of the Week |
"Northern lights, sweet flowering smell, spacebucket grow."
-Whizz |
We encourage you to forward this email to a friend in need!
Who Runs This
Newsletter? |
Nebula Haze:
Medical cannabis is important to me personally, and I'm dedicated to showing others how easy it is to grow their own supply of
cannabis at home.
It is my mission to educate and build growing resources to help both new and advanced growers get bigger, better yields with less time and money. |
|
Learn which seed sources are personally recommended by Nebula Haze |
Sirius Fourside:
Sirius Fourside is a hobbyist grower who has gained the bulk of his experience growing in water as a medium(deep water culture,
bubbleponics).
"Growing cannabis is a relaxing hobby in and of itself, but it also saves you money and keeps you from having to deal with shady characters. Cannabis is much
easier to grow than people give it credit for, and growing in water doesn't increase the difficulty much, if any. But whether you want to grow in water, coco, or a different medium, we'll show you how easy it can be!"
|
|
GrowWeedEasy.com has put together a hand-picked list of all the available SEED BANKS including what type of payment they
accept and where they ship in the world!
View complete list of trusted seed sources:
http://www.growweedeasy.com/seeds
Why not start your grow with quality genetics from an award-winning
strain? Or choose a strain that suits your growing style and personal needs. Still not sure? We recommend Nirvana. They've been breeding award-winning strains for decades
and offer some of the most reliable stealth shipping in the industry. In our complete seed sources list you'll discover... - Which Seed Sources are Fast, Safe and Reliable (list is updated regularly)
- Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Check Money Order, Paypal & even more secure payment options!
- Connoisseur, High-CBD & Medical Grade Strains Available
- Find Out Which Seed Sources Deliver to YOU!
Get Seeds!
|
Copyright (c) 2015 GrowWeedEasy.com NOTE: If links aren't working or if pictures are not showing up properly, please view the full newsletter here: http://archive.aweber.com/gwe-updates
Disclaimer: Grow Weed Easy only recommends products that we've either personally checked out ourselves, or that come from people we know
and trust. For doing so, we may receive a commission.
Nothing in this e-mail should be considered personalized Financial, Legal, Medical or any other kind of Advice. The contributors to this magazine grow legally under their local laws. If you cannot legally grow where you live, we DO NOT recommend that you start growing marijuana, as you can be arrested, put in prison, or
worse! Any decision to grow marijuana should only be made after consulting with an experienced lawyer or other legal adviser. Although our staff may answer your general customer service questions, they are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular investment or
legal situation. No communication by our staff to you should be deemed as personalized Financial or Legal Advice. Any investments and steps recommended in this letter should be made only after consulting with your lawyer or other legal or investment adviser. Nothing in this e-mail should be considered personalized Health Care or
Medical Advice. Although our staff may answer your general customer service questions, they are not licensed health care professionals. No communication by our staff to you should be deemed as personalized Health Care Advice. Any Health Care recommended in this letter should be made only after consulting with your Doctor and licensed Health Care Adviser. How Did I Sign Up For This Newsletter?
Our records indicate that requested to be added to the GrowWeedEasy.com weekly newsletter at .
Date:
To unsubscribe: |
|
