“G” uses a razor-sharp blade to take cuttings. He makes cuttings about 8-12 centimeters (3-4.5 inches) long and trims off two or three leaves. He dips the branches in Clonex rooting gel before inserting stems into Oasis cylinders 2.5 centimeters (1-inch). in diameter. Clones root in 10 - 14 days under fluorescent tubes that are on 24 hours a day.

He places rooting clones under standard Philips (33) fluorescent tubes with a color (Kelvin) temperature of 3300. They are similar to North American “daylight” bulbs found in discount stores. The first watering, “G” gives new clones a mix of Formulex fertilizer (EC 0.4), and that’s the only fertilizer they get! “G” waters clones in Oasis cylinders daily until soaked. The humidity in the vegetative room where clones also grow, stays between 40 and 60 percent, but he creates a special microclimate around clones by misting them daily with pure water and keeping them in a small greenhouse.

When you can see roots (not just one) sticking out the bottom and sides of the Oasis rooting cylinders, “G” puts them in rockwool cubes (7.5 x 7.5 centimeters, 3 x 3 inches) and places them under the fluorescent tubes 24 hours a day for another 3-5 days.

Once roots are well established in the rockwool cubes, he moves them into 4 or 8-liter pots. It depends on which strain as to which size of pots they go into. “G” uses the small pots for fast growing tall plants and larger 8-liter pots are for slow growing indicas.

“G” in the background, spliff in hand, is admiring one of the many ‘Chronic’ in his garden.

To hasten vegetative growth, he moves them under 400w halides for 20 hours a day.

After 8-14 days, the sativa/indica varieties are about 20-40 centimeters (7.8 x 15.6 inches) tall. This is the best time to move them into the flowering room. Larger taller varieties include ‘Cyber Crystal’, ‘Aurora Borealis’, and fast growing sativa-dominant strains.

The vegetative room is vented with two extraction fans (1. 1000 m3/hour and 2. 500 m3/hour). Two intake fans include: 1. 800 m3/hour, 2. 250 m3/hour. An oscillating 30-centimeter (11.7 inch) ventilation fan keeps the air from stratifying in the room.

Cloning and vegetative growth take place in the same room. He waters every day until the entire growing medium is soaked and some water runs out into the saucer below.

“When plants are in the rockwool cubes, I give them a mix of 50/50 percent osmotic water and normal water” informs “G”. He uses a combination of Rhizotonic (root-stimulator from Canna) and Formulex fertilizer with an EC of 0.6. When they are in their final 4 or 8-liter pots they get a mix of water (50/50) and Formulex fertilizer again, but he increases the EC to 0.6-1.0.

He mixes tap water 50/50 with water he has run through a reverse osmosis machine. RO purified water is what “G” calls “osmotic” water. This helps dilute the “dirty” tap water that has a high level of calcium, with an EC of 0.6. The RO machine is able to purify from 90 – 110 liters (25 gallons) a day.

Temperature of the solution depends on the weather outdoors; he tries to keep it between 18-20 degrees Celsius.

‘Chronic’ is one of “Gs” favorite commercial varieties.

Bud after bud of ‘Chronic’ has compact dense growth.

Varieties he is growing now include:

• ‘Chronic’ (Serious Seeds, Dutch) is a heavy, heavy producer! The medium tall plants are predominately indica but the lankiness tells you there are ample sativa genes too. Everyone loves the sweet taste! Flowering takes 8 to 8.5 weeks. The yield is outstanding, from 0.8 to 1.0 GPW/30. This one keeps on producing and producing!
  
  
• ‘Intro-Pack’ (Paradise Seeds, Dutch) is a mix of several indoor strains. Medium height plants bear fully formed flowers that are ready to harvest in 7 to 7.5 weeks. “I like the fruity taste and it gives me a nice buzz?” affirms “G”. The yield is about 0.8 to 0.85 grams per watt every 30 days of flowering.
  
  
• ‘Bob Marley's Best’ (High Quality Seeds, Dutch) is a 50/50 indica/sativa variety. The plants are short with a well-balanced sativa/indica high and a juicy, well pronounced citrus taste. Flowering takes 7 to 7.5 weeks and yield is about 0.7 to 0.75 GPW/30.
  
  
• ‘Super Silver Haze’ (Greenhouse, Dutch) is predominately sativa and derived from a mix of ‘Skunk #1’, ‘Northern Lights #5’, and ‘Haze’. The plants grow tall and lanky, but the quality has a hefty price. They take their time flowering, 9 to 10 weeks, and the yield is low, only 0.4 GPW/30. That’s if the plants are well grown!
  
  
• ‘Aurora Borealis’ (Positronics, Dutch, out of business) is a ‘Northern Lights #5’ ‘Skunk #1’ cross. The medium sized plant flowers in 7 to 7.5 weeks. The taste and high remind me of the old days, very, very skunky! It yields well, 0.7 GPW/30.
  
  
• ‘Cyber Crystal’ (K.C. Brains, Dutch) is 75 percent sativa and 25 percent indica. Medium height. “I love the Brazilian herbal taste and a uplifting sativa high”, reminisces “G” with a fond smile. Flowering takes 6.5 to 7 weeks and yields about 0.7 GPW/30.
  
  
• ‘Hash Plant’ (Sensi-Seeds, Dutch) is almost 100 percent indica, one of “Gs” personal favorites. It is medium height and flowering time is fast, 6 to 6.5 weeks. The down side is that the yield per plant is not great, but the shorter flowering time makes up for the lower yield, about 0.7 to 0.75 GPW/30. “G” loves the heavy hashy taste and the long-lasting high.

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