Thanks Man,
Appreciate. Better to go the safer route.
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Hello I’ve been using nukem for mite control what is the mixture you use with the tobacco and is it more effective…appreciate any input
Not sure. Used Neem oil first, then tobacco, hot sauce, and Dr Bonner’s Castile liquid soap, and lastly
parasitic mites that eat any bad ones. Problem was I never saw what was doing the damage, and when you don’t know your enemy, how can you fight it? I had five or six different pests in my outdoor vegetable garden. I stick to indoor now. Year round, and never more than one pest at a time.
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Can someone explain stem splitting and if there is a benefit to icing outdoor plants in mesh please.
Stem splitting is exactly what it sounds like, you split the bottom of the stem in half to force the plant to stress and produce more resin. A lot of us drill the stem instead of taking a sharp knife to it because it’s a bit safer and easier to do. This is done about a week before harvest.
Icing does the same thing in a different way. It also stresses the plant into producing more resin by freezing the roots. This is usually done the week of harvest.
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Still the stem?? How long do you ice for? Thank you.
stretchgfw😎
Sorry, that was drill the stem. You ice until harvest.
Ok… how big of a hole? Where on the stem? Ice for a week? Appreciate the info.
stretchgfw😎
Well, it depends on how big the stem is, but I always use a 1/4" drill bit. Drill about an inch or two above the soil at the base of the main stalk. Personally, I don’t do the ice thing, but I know people who swear by it.
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Good sized stem. 1/4" hole. Gotcha. Thanks!
stretchgfw 
I’m planning to both drill and ice. But my stems aren’t very thick, and I’ve been thinking that I’ll have to use something smaller than a ¼" bit. @raustin: you didn’t mention drilling two holes in the stem, as I’ve read about… two holes perpendicular to each other, one about an inch or two above the other. Do you just drill one hole?
Also, I doubt that I’ll be able to make a lot of ice with my RO water (since I want to save a bunch for a post-harvest rinse), so will just do one tray of ice for each plant to give them the idea that things are getting cold while they’re in their 48 hours of darkness. Hopefully that will still do the trick… and maybe also keep them from getting too hydrated, which will just have to be dried and cured anyway.
'Thoughts are welcome…
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Yes, you’re absolutely right about drilling two perpendicular holes. Honestly, I just didn’t want to confuse them, but I’m not sure extra holes are that necessary anyway. I always drill one hole, and I think it’s enough. You do run the risk of collapsing the stem with more holes.
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'Considering this, I think I’ll just drill one hole in each stem, then. Thanks! 
So use the ice with a split stem, right? How long before harvest do you guys split the stem? I usually go two weeks. And when do you start the ice flush? After a regular two flushes, and then the ice just before the 48 hour darkness?
I use a small drill bit to make a hole. Then increase the drill bit size until it’s about the width of 1/4 the width of the stalk. When you’re done, put something in the hole to keep it from healing up. I use a tywrap, and fasten it around a nearby stem. I usually drill about 4 inches from the soil/water.
I have yet to use the ice, but it looks like you use it before the 48 hour darkness before harvesting.
Hope that helps.
Cool man. I’m outside. No 48 hours of darkness for me. Thank you.
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Do you need 48 hours of darkness for drying and curing. And can you spray cold ice water in drying and curing for fresh buds…
The 48 hours of darkness before harvest gives the plants time for one final push of energy toward the buds as they think their winter has come. I’ve never heard of spraying ice water. I do but ice on my plants when I put them in for the 48 hours of darkness though. (Spraying ice water wouldn’t stay cold for very long, so I’m not sure of the efficacy of that. But I could be educated.)
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Thanks. It’s a good advice. I will try one of the plants and see what happens. Thanks again
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This is nice
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