Greetings! Since we're celebrating 420, I'm going to share a bit about what happens before a strain is regularly grown from seed. In a previous edition, we explained the phenotype selection process, known in our culture as "Pheno Hunt," where we choose the phenotype we want to preserve from the genetics we've chosen to grow. Because, as we know, when you sow a packet of seeds of the same strain, in theory they should all have some similarity, but there will always be distinct

As an educator and advocate for cannabis cultivation, I get asked a lot of questions. The most common question I receive is how to get started. The answer to this question isn't complicated, but it's important to know where to acquire the right materials. The most important piece of this puzzle is genetics. Genetics is a term growers use to indicate which strain or cultivar they are growing. So, how do you get the genetics you need? There are a couple of factors you should co

It's the only time of year when all the farmers are harvesting their outdoor cannabis crops, also known as sun-grown. October is a very busy time for cannabis farmers. Changes in the weather, cooler temperatures, and decreased daylight hours are all signs that the crop is reaching its peak yield. Many factors can affect harvest times. In wetter climates, extra care is needed, as the rainy season arrives early. Harvesting early is necessary to prevent bud rot and other problem

If you've ever visited an indoor grow operation, you'll have noticed that the plants' shape is a bit different from their natural form. Let me explain. Naturally, this plant, like many others, has a structure with a main stem whose apex is located at the top of the plant, and then several secondary stems at a similar height lower down. Naturally, the sun rises and sets at the sides, providing direct sunlight to plants from all angles throughout the day. However, in indoor cul

With technology improving every year, why aren't we taking full advantage of our ability to grow cannabis? The answer lies in current home cultivation laws and regulations. Currently, 38 states and three territories have cannabis consumption laws in place, while only 14 of those states permit home cultivation. Although most states agree that cannabis is medicinal, only a third of those states have established provisions for home cultivation. Lawmakers have attempted to addres

Since it's Halloween season, I'm going to tell you what could be a real horror story… Growing marijuana in Puerto Rico during hurricane season gives me the chills. Here on our beautiful island, this is precisely the most active part of hurricane season, and when you have plants flowering, it feels like a mix of anxiety and fear that I can't even begin to describe. As we've discussed in other posts, to grow good quality cannabis, in addition to good practices, you need good en

How did the Sisters begin? We were born out of the Occupy Movement. In 2011, when Michelle Obama tried to speak to Congress about how unhealthy our children's meals are (compared to other developed nations), our Congress dodged the issue so they wouldn't have to listen to a Black woman speak, and then they took their contempt to a higher level and met to declare pizza a vegetable. That was a huge middle finger to Michelle, the women, and the children of this country. That was

May 2019 - Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico - Two years after the successful opening of their dispensary in Carolina, the Puerto Rican entrepreneurs behind Earth Gift are expanding and opening their second medical cannabis dispensary in Trujillo Alto. They are also showcasing their exclusive artisanal cultivation. This marks another milestone, as this is one of the first boutique-style artisanal cultivations in Puerto Rico, featuring a strain unique to the island. The artisanal gro

For most people, October is Halloween. For outdoor cannabis growers in places like California, it's the month when the harvest begins. The summer conditions in that region are ideal for the flowering of our glorious plant, and it's customary for October and November to be the months of the best outdoor harvests in that area. Our plant takes between 60 and 70 days from flowering, depending on the strain, to reach maturity and its maximum medicinal potential. This is where the

OVER OR UNDER IRRIGATION In Puerto Rico, Christmas begins in November, and that month greeted us with quite a bit of rain. Seeing my little home garden suffer from the saturated soil due to so much rainfall reminded me of the importance of proper plant irrigation. It's true that when anyone starts gardening, common mistakes are always made when watering. Since roots need moisture to feed the plant, they also need oxygen. And they can't get it if the soil remains oversaturated

For years, hydroponics and its perception have gone through several stages of understanding and acceptance within the traditional agricultural culture. This is no exception for the cannabis industry, as today, most, if not all, of the cilantro and lettuce harvested on our island are grown using NFT hydroponics. But what are the differences between the various soilless cultivation techniques? As far as I know, at least in basic terms, there are three main types of techniques f

With an industry still teetering like a baby learning to walk, a Health Department in complete disarray, using the cannabis director position as a political stepping stone, placing people who know as much about cannabis and its industry or processes as Donald Trump knows about living in poverty, and a coterie of inspectors who look like they were plucked from ADT gave them a half-hour "training" and then let them loose to issue licenses and hand out fines like crazy. Only one

Este año ha sido memorable, sin duda. Con la inflación y la inestabilidad en todo el país, que hacen que viajar sea menos atractivo, decidí no asistir a la mayor convención de cannabis del año por primera vez en cuatro años. Viajar siempre ha sido un obstáculo para mí, pero este año se siente diferente en más sentidos de los que puedo expresar. El enfoque de la cultura del cannabis parece haber perdido el rumbo tras la reducción de las regulaciones y el estatus legal del cáña

You've most likely heard the phrase "Add twenty twenty." This is an abbreviation for the three numbers found on fertilizer containers; in this case, it's 20-20-20. These are known as NPK. The term NPK, which appears on plant fertilizers, represents three essential elements for plant growth: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). Each of these nutrients fulfills a specific and fundamental function in plant development, so understanding their meaning helps in selecting

As staunch defenders of the plant and its properties, we have always advocated for free access to it, including the right for those of us who enjoy gardening to grow our own plants. It would be wonderful to be able to cultivate our own little plants from time to time. And although some countries and states allow it, there are others that are still a bit behind in their knowledge and handling of this plant. But for those who don't live in places run by reactionaries, here are