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Cloning will also preserve the plants characteristics, but will not allow you to store seeds for use later. Crossing a plant with itself can
lead to inbreeding problems, so it may not be the optimum solution in many cases.
I once tried using Gibberellic Acid, sprayed on a healthy female, every day for over a week. No male flowers appeared on the plant. Your mileage may vary.
ODORS AND NEGATIVE IONS
Negative ion generators have been used for years now to cut down on odors in a grow room, but reports are coming in that a negative ion generator will increase growth speed and yield. No true
evidence to support this, however it does make sense, due to the fact that people and animals seem to be altered in a positive way by negative ions in the air, so plants may “feel” better too. Try putting
one in the grow room. You may notice the buds don’t have as much scent when picked, but that may be desirable in some cases. A negative ion generator can be purchased for $15 to $100 depending on the type and
power involved. Some have reversed cycles that collect the dust to a charged plate. It is also possible to use grounded aluminum foil on the wall and shelf where the ionizer sits, to collect these particles.
Just wipe the foil clean once a month. It should be grounded to an electrical outlets ground wire. If you don’t cover the wall and shelf with paper or foil, the wall will turn dark with dust taken from the
air, and you will have to repaint that wall later.
OXYGEN
O2 to the roots is a big concern, since the plant requires this for nutrients to be available, and to rid itself of toxins, etc. One of the easiest things to do is use food grade hydrogen
peroxide in the water to increase the availability of oxygen in the water. H2O2 has an extra oxygen atom that will easily break away and can be used by the plant. Oxygen Plus is a plant food that contains 25%
hydrogen peroxide and is perfect for this use. Using a planting medium that allows for plenty of aeration is also really important. Be sure you have good drainage by using Perlite, sand, or gravel in your mix
and at the bottom of pots. Don’t use a medium that holds too much water, or you may significantly reduce the oxygen available to the plant. More on that in the section on hydroponics. Aerating the water
before watering is also a good idea. In the case of soil potted plants, use an air pump to aerate the water overnight before watering your plants, or put the water in a container with a cap and shake it up real
good before giving to the plants. |