The new forum is just about ready! There are some little tweaks that need to be made and some errors that need to be corrected, but you can come sign up now and start posting today!
 

MEMBER BENEFITS:

1. Free to Join!!!
2. Create New Posts
3. Reply to Other Members
4. Subscribe to Favorite Topics
5. Timely Answers/Replies from Bud S. Moker, Th.C.
6. Upload Photos
7. Upload Custom Icon
8. Create a User Profile
9. Specific Username/password or use Open ID
10. Early Bird give-a-way Notification
11. …and much more!

BUD SAYS: Please visit the new forum and join in the conversation today!

Toke to ya soon,

Bud

FLUSHING YOUR MARIJUANA

Flushing is a two-step process meant to remove the excess nutrients from the soil/coco/hydro setup.  The first step is to leach the nutrients out of the soil/coco or rinse out the hydro reservoir and fill with clean water.  The second step is to deprive the plants of nutrients until they is ready to harvest.

Why flush at all, you may ask?  See, the plants retain the nutrients you give them.  They hold it in their leaves just in case you forget to feed them again.  They like being fed.  But, since we continue to feed them, they don’t need this stored up food.  This in turn means that if you don’t flush, your medicine will be harsh and bitter due to excessive nutrient build up.

SHARYNA SAYS: When smoked, non-flushed plants are easy to spot.  Ever see that black gunk that goos up your pipe?  That is the result of not flushing enough.  MMJ ash should be grey and suck thru a bong with no problem.  This is because nutrients contain minerals and minerals are metals.

Flushing should begin 10 days before harvest.  On an 8 week finishing cycle, you can stop feeding at the start of week seven.  In hydro, you can feed a little longer, through week 7.  Hydro will give you larger buds because of the longer feeding schedule.

HOW TO FLUSH SOIL OR COCO

In soil or coco, flushing is a two-step process.  The first step is to leach the minerals out of the soil/coco.  The second step is to deprive the plants of nutrients.  This is done by feeding them only water.  The plants are used to nutrients and when they are withheld, the plant will begin feeding on its stored nutrients.

Step One:

1. Make sure you have those little trays under your pots to catch all the run off.
2. Pour 15 gallons of water through each 15 gal pot.  Here, it is important to take your time to prevent the water from just running off and not saturating the soil/coco.
3. Use your ShopVac to suck the water out of the trays.  Make sure you get all the water to keep from having nutrients leach back into the plant.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 every day for the next 4 days.  This is what flushes the nutrients out of the plant so do it thoroughly.

Step Two:

1. Now, for the second step, simply don’t feed the plants.  Use pure water with a pH of 6.0-6.3.

HOW TO FLUSH HYDRO

As for a hydro set up, flushing is actually very easy.  The steps are the same… almost.

Step-by-Step:

1. First, unplug the water pump and let all the water drain from the bucket to the reservoir.
2. Detach the 2 hoses from the bucket.
3. Discard nutrients and sterilize all components as usual.
4. Refill the reservoir with 20 gal of pure water pH 5.8
5. Reattach those hoses!
6. Plug in your pump and let the water circulate through the bucket for 2 hours.
7. Discard the water from the reservoir and refill once again.
8. Allow this batch of water to circulate through for 24 hours.
9. Discard the water again and refill with pure water pH 5.8
10. Allow this final batch of water to flow through the system until harvest.  Be sure and check your water level and top off as necessary.

So there you have it, the secret to well flushed plants.  Grow well, my friends and remember:  Puff Puff Pass!

BY: Sharyna
www.sharyna.info

Smoking With Style is about to hit it’s 5 millionth unique visitor… at least according to Google. Truly, there have been over 7 million visitors, but at the time I started my website I wasn’t using any type of Google Analytics (nor did Analytics exist at that time.) 

Anyway, during the redesign of my site, I took a HUGE hit to my daily visitors, and I would like to thank all of you who came back and helped the site to recover. We are not 100% back to our original viewership, but we are close. And, once we hit that mark, I believe we can use the new set up and upcoming web content to push the limits beyond what was previously possible.

To celebrate our “rebirth,” I have reinvented the app “Ask Bud” into a new Smoking With Style companion app. This new app contains the original Ask Bud game, but also has all of the best pot etiquette information from the site. I believe that websites are on their way down/out in favor of applications designed specifically for smart phones. In order to stay current in today’s quickly-changing information society, I have dedicated a portion of all incoming SWS funds towards moving towards supporting this platform. Maybe, you’re not sure that you’ll like the app? Well, there is a FREE version for just that reason! However, if you want the “Talking Bud” version of the came and ALL available etiquette chapters, you can purchase the $0.99 version. This paid version will give you unlimited access to all future updates even when the price increases to $2.99.

In any event, THANK YOU for helping to make Smoking With Style one of the premier weed smoking websites on the web. And please make sure to visit my sponsors whenever you stop by! All ad revenues are used to update the site and make sure that your experience is the best it can be. That reminds me, the Smoking With Style Forum should be up this week!!! This forum will allow all registered users to ask questions, post topics, and discuss all things marijuana.

Time to light up a phat spliff and get to work!

Toke to ya soon,

Bud

Ok, today I’m going to talk dirty to you.  We’re going to get down and dirty, possibly for hours.  Have I got your interest yet?  Great, let’s go for it!

To the nursery that is.  We are going to buy dirt.  Yes, you heard me, dirt.  “But why would I want to buy something that I can find in my backyard?”  You ask.  Because for some reason, our dirt (with a few exceptions) is devoid of nutrients.  So off to the store we go, but there’s so much more to dirt than meets the eye.

Today, we’re going to discuss the three most popular growing mediums:  Soil, coco (coir), and hydroponics.  There are advantages and disadvantages to each of the mediums.  And in the end, it’s up to personal opinion.  What works for one may not work for the other.

Let’s start with soil.  This is the easiest and most popular medium.  No special stores are necessary, heck, you can pick it up with your groceries at Super Walmart.  There’s a myth out there that using real soil is what creates the earthy dirt taste in some Cannabis.  This is not necessarily true.  The taste depends mainly on the strain.  And proper flushing has a great deal to do with taste.  (We’ll discuss flushing in another article.)

Anyway, soil comes in several types.  There’s Miracle Gro, and FoxFarms to name just two.  (But these are two that I have personally used)  As I said, both of these come with advantages and disadvantages.  The advantage of Miracle Gro is it is chock full of nutrients.  However, they are nutrients best suited for tomatoes and roses.  There are your disadvantages.  FoxFarms costs more and comes in two types, Amazon Bloom and Ocean Forest.  “People” will tell you to use the Amazon Bloom and NOT the Ocean Forest.  No one ever gave me a reason so I, thinking dirt is dirt, have used both and see no difference.  But soil is easy to obtain and relatively filled with nutrients so it is a good start for the first time grower.

Any soil you get, you’re going to have to mix it 50/50 with Perlite.  No need for a name brand here, generic will do.  Remember to rinse your Perlite in a colander under water to remove all the dust.  You do this because the dust from the Perlite can clog up the roots and cause the plant to not feed.  Also, any soil you buy is going to contain pests.  It’s just a fact of life.  Spider Mites hang out in soil.  So do fruit flies, gnats, and aphids.

To grow in soil, you must water every 2 to 3 days, depending on size and growth cycle.  Sometimes, daily watering is necessary in maturity.  Plants in maturity need constant care so stick around to tend them.  Soil is also harder to flush than other mediums.  This can lead to buildups that can harm your plants if you don’t fix it.  To flush the plants and soil properly, you must have a way to collect the excess water that runs off.  You can do this by using those drainage trays that come with the pots and sucking up the water with your shop vac.  (Hey, why not buy that with the soil at Super Walmart!)

Another consideration with soil is, how to get rid of it.  When I was growing in pots, at the end of the season, I’d just dump it out in the back yard.  Sometimes I’d till it in, sometimes not.  Now, I hear that you don’t want old soil hanging around your house because of those darn pests.  So now, we have to get rid of the dirt.  You can put it out at the curb but only if you want to let the trash collector in on your little growing secret.  A more suitable way is to bag up the soil in heavy duty trash bags and drive it to the dumps yourself.

For my vegan friends, I’m going to put a little piece in here about Peat Moss:  There are environmental concerns now.  Peat Moss is decayed plant matter found in the rain forests.  Removing it can kill the rain forests.  It is not a readily renewable resource because it takes several centuries for Peat to regenerate.

Now, let’s move on to Coco Coir.  And no, that’s not a stripper but would make a good stripper name.  Coco Coir or Coco as it is more commonly known has been gaining popularity as a growing medium.  There are good reasons for this.  For one, it is soilless.  It is a byproduct of coconut processing.  It is, literally, the fiber found between the shell and the husk of coconuts.  And for those vegan friends, it is a completely renewable resource.

Coco is an inert medium which means no nutrients at all.  Everything the plant needs is your responsibility.  Luckily, there are several good coco specific nutrient blends out there that will give your plants a healthy life.  Remember, coco absorbs calcium and magnesium so you will need to add a calcium/magnesium supplement.

Also, Coco dries faster than soil so daily watering is necessary.  But this means, your plants will receive more water over their lifetime which will create more medicine.  Coco is great for beginners who would like the ease of soil but want to receive the benefits of Hydroponics.  It is also a good crossover medium for the intermediate grower wishing to convert from soil to hydroponics.

Coco has a lot of oxygen space which allows air to travel through the rhizosphere (where the roots and microorganisms cohabitate.)  The oxygen will accelerate activity between the roots and the microorganism… which is good.

Perlite can be added to Coco but it’s unnecessary.  One hundred percent Coco is just fine.  But plants may grow faster in 75% Coco and 25% Perlite.  Also, the more Perlite the faster the pot will go dry because there isn’t enough Coco to keep the plants moist.  This can become a problem in the later stages of growth when you’re watering every day.  (A good reason to stick with 100% Coco.)

It is easier to flush plants grown in Coco than plants grown in soil.  It is easily flushed of nutrients because it’s an inert material.  Use those drainage pans because Coco will have more run off than plants grown in soil.

The primary reason for using Coco is it doesn’t import pests the way soil can.  The disadvantages are few.  Occasional pH problems or that nasty calcium/magnesium deficiency  are your only ones, making it a user friendly medium.  Another drawback is the daily watering.  If you’re using a remote grow room or house, you gotta be there; no vacations for you!

Using 100% Coco can average you 2 pounds or more per plant.  It is possible that Coco will become the main choice for experienced growers because of this fact.

Before you start, make sure you have a pH meter and a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) meter!

That leaves us with just Hydroponics.  Hydroponics is basically growing the plants in water enriched with nutrients.  Hydroponics is one form or another dates back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  Growing “Hydro” has many advantages.  Without the barrier of soil or Coco, Hydro plants enjoy more vigorous growth and bud production because they can draw nutrients directly from the water.  Of course, this means you get more medicine come harvest time.  Hydro plants seem to have frostier, denser trichome formations.  These are the resin glands that contain the THC and other cannabinoids that determine the medicine’s potency.

If you are using a remote grow house, this is the medium for you.  Because you don’t have to water daily, you can stay away longer.  Depending on the size of your reservoir, you could stay away for up to a week.  But remember, a lot can go wrong while you are away so make sure your Hydro is running properly.

A financial advantage to Hydro is you don’t have to buy soil, Coco or Perlite.  Hydro doesn’t need a drainage system and is relatively easy to clean.

The biggest benefit to Hydro is it is so darn easy to flush.  The better your flush, the better the medicine with taste and perform.  This is so important because if you don’t properly flush your nutrients, you will end up smoking harmful substances.  Hydro makes flushing a sinch.

This is definitely an advanced growing medium.  A lot can go wrong with Hydro.  More than with any other medium.  There is power loss, equipment malfunctions, and the spread of disease through the sharing of reservoirs just to name a few.  This makes growing Hydro very difficult so I would suggest starting with soil or Coco, if you’re a newbie.  Once you know the tendencies of the Cannabis plant, you can begin experimenting with Hydro.

Since Hydro requires more equipment, your startup costs are going to be more.  Of course, this will be offset over the years but your initial outlay will be substantially more.  Ongoing costs consist of Hydro fertilizers which are a bit more expensive.

Space is also a consideration when using Hydro.  You need room for all those reservoirs, you know. And you must have hot water available to your site so you can routinely sanitize your equipment.

Of all three growing mediums, Hydro is most attuned to the grower’s personality and behavior.  Hydro would be a good medium for clean freaks.  Hydro must be sanitized regularly as Hydro is more susceptible to disease and harmful bacteria.  The grow house must be spotless!  It should be free of leaf matter and all equipment scrubbed in hot bleach water weekly.

So there you have it.  Three different mediums, three degrees of difficulty.  My dream is to grow in clay pots with Coco.  What’s yours?

BY: Sharyna
www.sharyna.info

Attention writers, bloggers, and pot activists:

Do you have interesting things to say about smoking marijuana, cooking with marijuana, legalizing marijuana, etc.? Smoking With Style is now looking for writers/bloggers to add interesting and original content to the blog section of our site. As our traffic comes back (temporarily down 95% due to the total redesign), your words will be available to our 4,500+/day unique visitors.

You can write about anything (pot-related) you’d like as long as it’s interesting and relatively appropriate. You can even mention/promote your own blog within the body of our blog, but the content you write for us MUST be original to this site ONLY. We pride ourselves on our unique content as this is what separates us from any/every other pot etiquette site out there. That… and we’ve been around for over a decade!

Do you have what it takes?

Find out now!

Submit your blog post today to bud@smokingwithstyle.com!

Bud

I wanted to make sure that everybody knew they could leave blog comments at any time. The blog IS moderated, but I allow for differing viewpoints as long as they are worded well and interesting. Your comments and suggestions are not only welcomed they are NEEDED. We are a community of stoners and we need to ban together to… united we are strong, together we stand, one for all, the meek shall inherit,  and whatever. Raw raw ree, kick him in the knee! Raw raw RASS, kick him in the other knee! What was I saying? Anyway, let’s move on.

If you do not see the comments section below, make sure to hit “read more” at the end of this post.

Bud

Let’s discuss the legalization of marijuana. Should it be legal? Of course!

The END!

###

But really, what are the reasons YOU think pot should be legalized? If you haven’t noticed yet, you can comment on all of my blogs with no need to sign in or become a member. All comments are moderated, but I allow comments with differing viewpoints assuming they are smart, well-written, and/or amusing.

Please leave your comments below. If you don’t see the comment section, make sure to click “read more.” I’ll be sure and try to answer all questions in a timely manner.

And while you’re at it, please make sure and subscibe to my RSS feed: http://www.smokingwithstyle.com/feed/.

Toke to ya soon,

Bud

There has been so much turmoil in the medical cannabis industry this year. We’ve seen collectives in some states thrive only to witness them get hammered back again. There have been so many ups and downs, but I think it’s safe to say that they took a beating over all. However, there is light on the horizon… for after all is said and done, I hope to look back at these trying times and see that these were needed debates toward finally establishing firm guidelines which allowed the industry to stabilize. Once that happens, we can have a steady and reliable soDurce for our medical needs.

However, I suppose that these laws would become mute if marijuana became legal for recreational use. Just think, a mere decade ago there were NO state-legalized collectives. Now, there are thousands of them nationwide. Public opinion is changing… for the better. So, as we resolve our medical marijuana issues, let’s make a push towards legalization within the next 4 years (2015). Below, find our super-general, but easy-to-follow game plan.

2012 - Knowledge. In year one we can each focus our attention on gaining knowledge of marijuana’s history as well as the reasons for our current marijuana laws (the answer to which may both surprise and anger you.)

2013 - Spread the Word. In the 2nd year we can take our knowledge and spread the message through word of mouth, social media, and other viral-marketing methods available at the time.

2014 - Finalize the Law. Now with significant legal power and financial backing, we can have real discussions about how to control, distribute, and tax what is sure to be our single largest cash crop (food, fuel, clothing, cosmetics, etc.)

2015 - The Vote. With significant media attention now drawn toward the cause, it will be time to put “The People” to the test… the 420 legalization ballot of 2015.

We are almost there. While each state figures out its own medical marijuana laws, let us begin our 4-year plan. For starters, if you have not read this site from page-to-page please do. While “pot etiquette” is sort of a silly subject, having great etiquette is part of any great society. And in our marijuana culture, smoking with style is of the upmost importance.

Bud

The new site is in transition as we speak. There seem to be quite a few issues at this time, but hopefully they will be worked out shortly. Ahh, growing pains … how I DON’T miss you.

Anyway, please be sure to contact me once the site is up and fully functional and let me know what you think. Feel free to make suggestions and comment on what you like and what you dislike about the new layout.

Toke to ya soon,

Bud

Smoking With Style is going to be introducing a links page for all of the best medical marijuana locations in the United States. As we won’t have a chance to visit each collective ourselves, we will rely on you (our loyal reader/visitor) to let us know where you belong and why your favorite cannabis collective should be added to our growing list.

If there is a location that you think, or “know” needs to be on our new links page, please comment below. You do not need to be a member to comment, however your comment(s) will be deleted if found to be inappropriate.

Also, if you are the owner of a collective and you want your establishment to be given special attention in order to grow your patient list, please contact us and we can work out a way to get your storefront listed in a prominent position relative to the other links.

Thank you, in advance, for your continued participation in making www.SmokingWithStyle.com the most entertaining and informative cannabis site on the web!

Toke to ya soon,

Bud