branches, elongated light-wt. skunky social red Susceptible to
conical shape flowers on pistils fusarium wilt.
tiny cola
branches.
Jamaican late 6-10 3-6 conical, but squat- long thin light, medium, thin, long runs light Adaptable, good
Oct.-Dec. ter than Col. Med. colas sweet, active, under low light green weather resistance.
leaves, medium w/buds musky social Susceptible to
branching 11/2 "-3" fusarium wilt.
long
Mexican Oct.-early 8-15 41/2-9 elongated long, thin light, weak, long thin light Vigorous plants, fast
(Northern) Nov. X-mas tree, long 12"-24" sweet slightly mature well green, starters. Some cold-
branches, medium- colas perfume, heavy, red resistance.
sized leaves spicy sleepy
Mexican Nov.-Dec. 8-14 4 1/2-9 shorter than long thin sweet comes on long, thin, may very' light Hybridizes well with
(Southern) northern 12 "-18" quick; run a little colored, Afghani.
colas intense, red hairs
soaring
Moroccan Aug.- 4-9 21/2-5 some sidebranching, thick, round med. weak, thin buds dark Good breeding
Sept. but most effort in ed, 3"-6" sweet to buzzy mature easily green material, lots of
tops long skunky variation.
Nigerian mid 6-12 4-7 X-mas tree with med. thick, dry- very thick, med. medium Vigorous warm
Nov.-mid strong side dense; runs sweet, strong, length, may green weather plant. Needs
Dec. branches; long, in low light perfume bell- run; needs light to mature.
highly serrated musk ringing, lots of light
fingers paralyzing
Thai Dec.-Jan. 5-9 4-8 asymmetrical, long dense, medium, strong fluffy, medium Many hermaphodites
and con- branches seek open under high dry- druggy, mature Se- green make growing hard.
tinuing space light runs sweet, has energ quentially Buds ripen but plant
otherwise spicy over months sends out new
flowers.
Southern Aug.- 5-9 4-6 elongated conical med. thick, heavy uplifting, thin buds light Very variable. Good
African Oct. lower branches may be sweet to social mature easily green breeding material.
angle up sharply; somewhat spicy
thin-bladed leaves loose &
often heavily leafy
serrated
All of the descriptions are tentative guidelines. They are affected by cultivation technique, microenvironmental conditions, variations in climate, nutrients
available, latitude and other factors. Often, several distinctive varieties can be found in the same areas. The most common varieties are described.
the smoker a buzzy, confusing high. These plants are used mostly
for hybridizing. Plants found above the 3oth latitude usually have
low levels of THC, with high levels of CBD and are considered
hemp.
If indica and sativa varieties are considered opposite ends of a
spectrum, most plants fall in between the spectrum. Because of
marijuana and hemp's long symbiotic relationship with humans,
seeds are constantly procured or traded so that virtually all popula-
tions have been mixed with foreign plants at one time or another.
Even in traditional marijuana-growing countries, the mari-
juana is often the result of several crossed lines. Jamaican ganja,
for example, is probably the result of crosses between hemp, which
the English cultivated for rope, and Indian ganja, which arrived
with the Indian immigrants who came to the country. The term for
marijuana in Jamaica is ganja, the same as in India. The traditional
Jamaican term for the best weed is Kali, named for the Indian killer
goddess.
Chapter Three
Growth and Flowering
The cannabis plant regulates its growth and flowering stages by
measuring changes in the number of hours of uninterrupted
darkness to determine when to flower. The plant produces a hor-
mone (phytochrome) beginning at germination. When this chemical
builds up to a critical level, the plant changes its mode from
vegetative growth to flowering. This chemical is destroyed in the
presence of even a few moments of light. During the late spring and
early summer there are many more hours of light than darkness and
the hormone does not build up to a critical level. However, as the
days grow shorter and there are longer periods of uninterrupted
darkness, the hormone builds to a critical level.
Flowering occurs at different times with different varieties as a
result of the adaption of the varieties to the environment. Varieties
from the 3oth latitude grow in an area with a temperate climate and
fairly early fall. These plants usually trigger in July or August and
are ready to harvest in September or October. Southern African
varieties often flower with as little as 8 or 9 hours of darkness/15 to
16 hours of light. Other 3oth latitude varieties including most in-
dicas flower when the darkness cycle lasts a minimum of 9 to 10
hours. Jamaican and some Southeast Asian varieties will trigger at
11 hours of darkness and ripen during September or October.
Equatorial varieties trigger at 12 hours or more of darkness.
This means that they will not start flowering before late September
or early October and will not mature until late November or early
December.
Of course, indoors the plants' growth stage can be regulated
with the flick of a switch. Nevertheless, the plants respond to the ar-
tificial light cycle in the same way that they do to the natural
seasonal cycles.
The potency of the plant is related to its maturity rather than
Chronological age. Genetically identical 3 month and 6 month-old
plants which have mature flowers have the same potency. Starting
from seed, a six month old plant flowers slightly faster and fills out
more than a 3 month old plant.
Chapter Four~~
Choosing a Space
Almost any area can be converted to a growing space. Attics,
basements, spare rooms, alcoves and even shelves can be used.
Metal shacks, garages and greenhouses are ideal areas. All spaces
must be located in an area inaccessible to visitors and invisible from
the street.
The ideal area is at least 6 feet high, with a minimum of 50
square feet, an area about 7 by 7 feet. (Square footage is computed
by multiplying length times width.) A single 1,000 watt metal halide
or sodium vapor lamp, the most efficient means of illuminating a
garden, covers an area this size.
Gardeners who have smaller spaces, at least one foot wide and
several feet long, can use fluorescent tubes, 400 watt metal halides,
or sodium vapor lamps.
Gardeners who do not have a space even this large to spare can
use smaller areas (See the chapter "Novel Gardens").
Usually, large gardens are more efficient than small ones.
The space does not require windows or outside ventilation, but
it is easier to set up a space if it has one or the other.
Larger growing areas need adequate ventilation so that heat,
oxygen, and moisture levels can be controlled. Greenhouses usually
have vents and fans built in. Provisions for ventilation must be
made for lamp-lit enclosed areas. Heat and moisture buildup can be
extraordinary. During the winter in most areas, the heat is easily
dissipated; however, the heat buildup is harder to deal with in hot
weather. Adequate ventilation and air coolers are the answer.
Chapter Five
Preparing the Space
The space is the future home and environment of the plants. It
should be cleaned of any residue or debris which might house in-
sects, parasites or diseases. If it has been contaminated with plant
pests it can be sprayed or wiped down with a 5 % bleach solution
which kills most organisms. The room must be well-ventilated when
this operation is going on. The room will be subject to high humidi-
ty so any materials such as clothing which might be damaged by
moisture are removed.
Since the plants will be watered, and water may be spilled, the
floors and any other areas that may be water damaged should be
covered with linoleum or plastic. High grade 6 or 8 mil polyethylene
drop cloths or vinyl tarps protect a floor well. The plastic should be
sealed with tape so that no water seeps to the floor.
The amount of light delivered to the plant rises dramatically
when the space is enclosed by reflective material. Some good reflec-
tive materials are flat white paint, aluminum (the dull side so that
the light is diffused), white cardboard, plywood painted white,
white polyethylene, silvered mylar, gift wrap, white cloth, or
silvered plastic such as Astrolon. Materials can be taped or tack-
ed onto the walls, or hung as curtains. All areas of the space should
be covered with reflective material. The walls, ceiling and floors are
all capable of reflecting light and should be covered with reflective
material such as aluminum foil. It is easiest to run the material ver
tically rather than horizontally.
Experienced growers find it convenient to use the wide, heavy
duty aluminum foil or insulating foil (sold in wide rolls) in areas
which will not be disturbed and plastic or cloth curtains where the
material will be moved.
Windows can be covered with opaque material if a bright light
emanating from the window would draw suspicion. If the window
does not draw suspicion and allows bright light into the room, it
should be covered with a translucent material such as rice paper,
lace curtains, or aquarium crystal paint.
Garages, metal buildings, or attics can be converted to
lighthouses by replacing the roof with fiberglass greenhouse
material such as Filon~. These translucent panels permit almost all
the light to pass through but diffuse it so that there is no visible im-
age passing out while there is an even distribution of light coming
in. A space with a translucent roof needs no artificial lighting in the
summer and only supplemental lighting during the other seasons.
Overhead light entering from a skylight or large window is very
helpful. Light is utilized best if it is diffused.
Concrete and other cold floors should be covered with in-
sulating material such as foam carpet lining, styrofoam sheeting,
wood planks or wooden palettes so that the plant containers and the
