Anonymous A beginners guide to
cannabis cultivation. UK 1995(?) 30pp
This small
pocket-sized (10cm x 9cm) booklet. Contains no disclaimer.
Contents
include: Introduction, Where to grow?, Seeds and their
soil, germination, lighting - indoors, feeding, flowering,
cloning, drying and curing, setting up a grow-room,
pests and problems.
Introduction
states "This book has been written with the intention
of guiding all you "virgin" green-fingered
herbalists through the nightmares of dead plants and
skimpy buds, into the dreamy gardens of fat, sticky,
megabuds.
Recommends
growing indoors as the most practical, but most risky
option, with outdoor plants susceptible to pests, and
greenhouses offering a compromise. Recommends skunk
and hybrid plants as "the only ones worth paying
for". Suggests soil pH range 6 to 6.5 (slightly
acidic) using grow-bags or hydroponics, germination
of seeds in cotton wool before transplanting. Discusses
fluorescent lights and metal halide/sodium HID lights.
Suggests NPK fertiliser with trace elements, use of
antacids (e.g. Rennies( as source of magnesium. Discusses
use of 12 hours darkness to induce flowering, and flowering
of outdoor plants during September and October. Discusses
advantages and methods of taking cuttings (inaccurately
states that cuttings can not produce seeds). Discusses
harvesting and drying methods, manicuring of buds, and
problems with mould. Final chapter discusses problems
with overfeeding, overwatering and insect pests (use
of washing-up solution and insecticides rather than
organic control through predators).
Penultimate
chapter gives ten steps to setting up a grow room, including
(1) choose an out of the way space with ample room,
(2) enclose the room preventing escape of light, and
remove anything nor required, (3) cover all surfaces
in reflective material to maximise coverage from 1000w
HID lamp, (4) maintain fresh air and circulation through
venting and fans, (5) maintaining an adequate water
supply by hand or automatic (e.g. sprinkler) systems.
(6) waterproofing and drainage, (7) use of pulleys to
adjust lighting height, (8) implements such as spray
bottle, pruning scissors, pH 7 soil testing equipment,
tape measure and notebook to record the growth of plants
(9) add plants, closely-together, but at least 2 feet
away from the grow-bulbs, (10) "the final and most
enjoyable part of having your own grow-room is yet to
come. Wait for the plants to mature, bud, and then happy
smoking!"
This booklet
gives the novice grower all the basic information needed
to grow cannabis. The style is instructional, chatty,
and occasionally amusing. Some of the information is
inaccurate, and the general appearance is amateurish
with spelling mistakes. The booklet was obtained from
a stall at the Glastonbury Festival.
