Breeders, please focus on stalk genetics

I run a medical grow and saggy plants are the worse.

Yes, I know about caging, supporting, netting, etc, but if I can avoid that step and grow weed with thick, supportive stalks, all the better.

I understand thc content, size, smell, color all get the forefront, but for medical growers, this would save me so much time.

Thank you for listening if you are a breeder reading this. Here are some pictures from my recent run. One saggy plant and one with strong stalks. The one with the strong stalks actually grows bigger buds too, so its not like all big bud plants are making these girls sag.

Lol some of my best kushes have been viney.

Yeah this is the opposite of what most want. While it’s nice to have plants that are sturdy, I breed for the least amount of stem and leaf and highest quantity of smokeable/useable flower. I’m not going
To breed extra work trimming into weed. Sorry.

kmog33 said:

Yeah this is the opposite of what most want. While it’s nice to have plants that are sturdy, I breed for the least amount of stem and leaf and highest quantity of smokeable/useable flower. I’m not going
To breed extra work trimming into weed. Sorry.

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I'm with you on the leaf, I don't want it either. But if the bud has a sturdier stalk, I see that as a win. My patients take the stalk off big or small anyways.

Feed more potassium. It has been shown to increase water pressure in the stalks, thereby making the stalks stronger. I feed it with Protekt silica.

Genetics certainly play a role in this but primarily what you are seeing is the plant reacting to its environment. In other words the environment in your grow area isn’t stressing the plants enough for them to expend the energy in growing thicker stems and branches. Outdoor plants are naturally pushed to devote more energy to stem growth and development as a result of growing in the elements and being continuously subjected to rain and wind.

You could try and simulate nature more in your grow area to stimulate more stem growth. Keep your circulation fan running on high and have it blowing directly on the plants? But honestly the whole point of growing indoors is to protect your plants from the elements so that the plant can devote all of its energy towards bud growth and development.

VILEPLUME said:

I'm with you on the leaf, I don't want it either. But if the bud has a sturdier stalk, I see that as a win. My patients take the stalk off big or small anyways.

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The amount of stem weight in a pound of weed ranges between several grams to a few oz....let me know which pack you want to buy.

kmog33 said:

The amount of stem weight in a pound of weed ranges between several grams to a few oz....let me know which pack you want to buy.

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Lol, I understand what you are saying. But as a medical grower, I just want to spend less time trying to hold up my bud.

VILEPLUME said:

Lol, I understand what you are saying. But as a medical grower, I just want to spend less time trying to hold up my bud.

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Get a ton of airflow blasting at them, most plants will thicken out in turbid conditions.