The best location for a grow room is in an obscure corner of a basement, where the temperature is easy to keep constant year round. Basements are well insulated by concrete walls and soil. A basement room can be enclosed and camouflaged with junk, a double wall, workbench, or shelving. read more...

Pre-flowers, described by Robert Clarke in Marijuana Botany as "primordial," are the first indication of a plant's sex. The pre-flowers grow at branch internodes just behind the leaf spur or stipule about the fourth week of vegetative growth, when the plant is six to eight weeks old. This is the point of sexual maturity, the first sign a plant is preparing for flowering–the next stage in life. read more...

Here is one of the best websites I have found that describes insects, and they have excellent photos of all pests and predators that attack marijuana... read more...

Hydro-organic, rolls off the tongue like a fatty ready for fire. But hydro-organic? Isn’t that an oxymoron? How can you merge hydroponic gardening, known for high yields using exacting amounts of chemical fertilizers, with organic fertilizer? read more...

Always read the entire label, and follow the directions. To mix, dissolve the powder and the crystals into a little warm water, and make sure it is totally dissolved before adding the balance of the tepid water. This will ensure that the fertilizer and the water mix evenly. Liquid fertilizers can be mixed directly with water. read more...

Marijuana can be reproduced (propagated) sexually or asexually. Seeds are the product of sexual propagation; clones or cuttings are the result of asexual or vegetative propagation. In its simplest form, taking a cutting or clone is cutting a growing branch tip and rooting it. read more...

Soft Secrets: Drying and Curing Cannabis for the Most Potent Smoke

Drying and curing cannabis properly will yield the most THC-potent smoke. When dried and cured improperly, potency can diminish substantially. The level of THC in a plant is determined by its genetics. Proper drying and curing will keep the THC level as high as genetically possible. It does not increase potency. A little background on what happens inside and outside the harvested drying plant will help you understand why proper drying and curing are so important to good quality dope. read more...

Soft Secrets: Keep it Cool!

Heat and water stress and pests can slow your grow show to a crawl in hot weather. Every year even the best growers forget about the long hot days of summer. Often symptoms of heat stress are subtle and less experienced growers will not notice the damage caused until it is too late. Understanding what happens inside plants will help you solve many heat-related problems before they slow garden growth. Couple this information with an knowledge of microclimates and you will be able to keep your garden, both indoors and outdoors, a few degrees cooler. In many cases, just a few degrees will increase harvests substantially. read more...

Soft Secrets: Basic Growing

The first column in Soft Secrets and La Maria! Recently HIGH TIMES magazine and I renegotiated my contract and now I can write for European magazines. I am very happy to write for Soft Secrets and La Maria because they reach more growers than any other magazines in Europe. This column is all about, growing! read more...

British Colombia, Canada Trip

Flying into Vancouver, BC for the first time in five years to shoot a “Growing with Jorge” DVD evoked many memories. Chow hound Beagles that equate the fragrance of cannabis with a treat still lurk around the airport. Soon I would learn that old friends Romunan Joe moved up north and Vansterdan had recently been busted. read more...

Spanish Swiss Roundup

The first annual La Bella Flor (Beautiful Flower) in 1997 in Cordoba, Spain was my first official marijuana cup. The festival was held at a squatted convent 100 yards from the imposing big regional police station. About 200 people attended the event. There were hemp products and foods were available at booths inside the complex. There was no shortage of marijuana and Moroccan hashish. The quality of the winning bud was fair and some were less than good. read more...

Montreal Mania

Two biker clubs, the Hells Angels and the Rock Machine, have been in turf wars over Montreal, Quebec real estate for years. The local Angels chapter has the dubious distinction of being the toughest and most violent in the world. The first thing I learned in Montreal is: don’t fuck with either gang! Montreal cops have their hands full just keeping the bikers in check, and care little about busting a few docile plant-loving potheads. read more...

Buying Bud in Barcelona

Known as the Anarchist’s City, festive Barcelona, two hours south of the French border on the Mediterranean supports a smoke-friendly environment. Life is laid back. Stores open at 9 or 10 AM, many close from 2-5 for lunch and reopen from 5-8. The bars start hopping about 8 PM. The real nightlife starts after dinner, about 10 PM and later. Stop by one of the grow stores (some 300 in Spain) to buy seeds. L’Interior, Carrier Carmen 29 is one of the biggest. read more...

Best Grower in the World!

“G”, a Swiss grower, manages the most productive indoor garden I have ever seen in my life. And believe me I have seen a few grow shows! I first met “G” four years ago, he was one of 15 growers in an all day grow seminar I was conducting near Zurich. The group of growers blew me away with their knowledge level, professionalism, dedication and love of cannabis. It started at 8 AM sharp, Swiss time you understand, and went until 5 PM. We had an hour break for lunch. read more...

Ebb and flow hydroponic system

Is a high tech garden more productive than a low-tech garden? What does “high tech” mean? Does it mean that you grow with the aid of lots of cool little gadgets in a tricked out automated hydroponic (soil) system? Or can you achieve the same yields as the great big high techie gardens by using the advanced technology provided by years of research, but in the form of a low-tech garden? I have seen both kinds of gardens and let me tell you here and now, I will put my pesos on the simple garden every time. read more...

Harvest map 2003

The Netherlands: Temperate arid weather dominated the marijuana-growing season in the Netherlands. The warmer drier weather was a stark contrast from the cool cloudy wet growing season last year. The unseasonably warm dry weather excites growers and perplexes others who know global warming is changing the climates for the worse. read more...

Harvest Spain Swiss (2001)

Spanish growing surged ahead by globs of resin in 2001. Fueled by a desire to enjoy long-season sativas that thrive under abundant sun and an influx of new seed varieties. My fifth “official HIGH TIMES” annual tour of the Spanish scene yielded more quality smoke than in any years past. read more...

Colombian Jungle Fever

Deep in the South American jungle, growers are using Dutch genetics to produce the best pot on the continent. read more...

Twice the Bud for Half the Light!

“You can use half the light and achieve the same harvest,” said James, an astute looking man with a cat that ate the canary look as he puffed on a spliff the size of a big Cuban cigar. read more...