I have a few questions and wondering what everyone thinks. So I just started growing recently and I’m on my first grow. Do you guys know of people that grow and don’t partake? And if so do they grow good bud? And how can they tell if they
grow good bud if you don’t partake? It’s almost like making fine wine and don’t drink wine? The reason I ask is I haven’t smoked in over 23 years because of the career field I went into now that I’m retired I still don’t partake because now I do the same job just as a civilian. I’m growing for my spouse for medical reasons. Years ago before my spouse started smoking she was on 10 different medications and always bed ridden and this amazing plant has changed her life dramatically she’s no longer on medications and has a normal life. I know I can ask her what she thinks but as a spouse is she really going to tell her other half that bud is trash lmao? I’m sure she’s not going to want to discourage me from growing so it might not be the best review. I want to be able to grow really good buds of her favorite strains. And want to know if a nonsmoker can even do this? My goal is to get just as good buds if not better than what we can get at a dispensary. I joined this group to read up as much as I can and with all the information I’ve received from this group I can say it’s put me on the right pass for success if I can implement it correctly. Sorry for the long post just wanted to see others think thank you again to all the great people on this forum.
Oh trust me you’ll know if your bud is trash. My bro inlaw grows for my sister. At first she would act like it was good and still buy. Eventually she went all out and said it was trash and asked me to help her out. He looked mad so I tried to help him but he is a closed mind to anything new. He has really great grows but he always harvests way to early, that’s why she thinks it’s trash.
I grow and Don’t get to partake because of my job.
I feel I grow good bud, I use to smoke a lot in college.
But now I have to go off every other metric to determine if it’s good
I.e bud density, terpene profile . Node spacing .ECT
But ultimately having a buddy or two who smokes on the regular helps a lot lol
And to achieve this I did lot of research and bought the right tools for the job. Lighting being the most important.
The last time I smoked, ingested, or partook of weed or any drug popular at the time was when I was in my early twenties. I am now 68. But my wife has always enjoyed her smokes. So, like you, I took up growing when I was retiring. We garden so I figured I could figure it out. I have no idea how it tastes, but I still love the smell, or if it is any good. The running joke when I ask how it is, can you tell the difference between this strain or another, her reply is always “I like it” It’s nice" " can you roll a couple more".
What I grow exceeds her consumption so every month or so I give a couple Zips to a son. His comments are it tastes great and that it is not as potent as what he would buy at a dispensary in another state. Potency is intentional. I’m not interested in growing super high THC strains. Most are in the 17 - 20% range. although I have some GDP growing now.
Recent photo of one GDP in the 3x3
It is a blast and I have fun with it.
I do not partake, as in “smoke.” I used to smoke (cigarettes) and I am adamant about never putting smoke in my lungs-- doesn’t matter what kind. I think the smell, the “bouquet” using the winemaker metaphor, can tell you a lot. Observing using the loupe or a computer microscope, and then the reports from people you give it to will help you. I do plan on infusing and making gummies when I get this down. I work at a job that does not require testing (I am the boss).
By the looks of your plants you have going now I’d say you have it figured out.
Thank you for that compliment 
@Joshmcginnis28 @BigItch @beardless @Honeybunny my first grow so far what my bud sites look like and thank you for the comments
I give a couple family members a 1/4 pound or so each time I harvest. One of them could care less about things like what strain it is, whether it is indica or sativa, or what a terpine profile is. His eyes always gloss over when I try to tell him about these things. lol.
Welcome to the community , and yes absolutely you can grow great buds better than you can buy. It’s not hard to find somebody to give a free sample too. You’re at the right place for any help you need along the way. good luck @Ace420Grow with your new venture.
@kellydans thank you and I agree everyone on here are very helpful and will to go out of there way to help someone that they don’t even know
As long as it burns.
One of my favorites stages. Actually, everything between seed to harvest is a favorite.
Buds look good. They will fatten and fill out. Fun to watch them progress.
@Ace420Grow you are going to have some beautiful buds. The colors on the last 2 pics are incredible. I’m a regular smoker. Cannabis is what keeps me level. Has a much better effect than my depression/insomnia meds (I take them, I need them), but the actual growing and tending to the plants needs is so therapeutic. Happy growing!
I started growing about a year back for my wife. I do not partake due to my job. It isn’t legal here yet so I decided to try growing it because sometimes it was hard to find and i worried about what she might be smoking. You just never know nowadays right? So I started with a small little corner of my shop with a make shift thrown together grow room and some cheap led lights. Ordered some autoflower seeds from ILGM, threw them in some soil and watched them grow. Turns out i love to grow and now have just succesfully completed my first Hydro grow and just started the second. I absolutely love being in my “Serenity Room” with the plants. I still haven’t tried any of it but my wife and a few close friends and family says it’s just as good if not better than anything they’ve smoked. I find that very satisfying.
It doesn’t matter what you show him…he grows by season and swears all plants grow on a 12/12 even clones. Some people get stuck he’s one of them
Many people grow that don’t partake. I am one. As many others have stated, I grow for my wife. She’s young but has had ailments the last several years. Weed has been more beneficial than the morphine she’s been on. With mj she can sleep. Morphine…she’s up constantly.
How to tell if it’s garbage…have some smokers over for a smoke session. If they’re setting the pipe or bong or J down after a couple rounds, then it could be good. If they don’t pick it back up after a few minutes…then you have some fire.