Need Advice - BubbleGum preflowers in Veg:

OrganicMechanic

OrganicMechanic

Member
Hey Guys, I have a quick question for anyone that has experience with strains that pre-flower in Veg.

I Picked up a Bubble Gum cutting from a friend last month. Very excited. I haven't tasted this strain in 10 years. Anyways..... the problem is - this plant is showing pistils that are very long (1cm) from almost every node on the plant. Their is also a single "very small" calyx cluster, with trichomes on it, under one of the plant nodes as well.

This BBGUM plant is in the Veg chamber with all my other plants. My other plants don't show pre-flowers.

I've been growing for a few years and have seen this before on another strain. It was a pain in the ass to get successful "rooted" clones from it and they took twice as long to root... Also,that particular strain turned Hermie later on in it's life - week 5 of flowering. These are problems I need to avoid today.

I talked to the friend who gave me the Bubble Gum clone. He told me his bubble gum plants do the same thing. He said their is no delay/problem when taking cuttings and No Hermie issues in flowering. He's only had the strain for a couple months, which leads me to not fully trust him.

Is bubble gum a strain that normally pre-flowers in Veg?

Can I believe my friend?

Any help is much appreciated. thanks
 
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fxbane

Active Member
How old is the plant? Most start showing pre-flowers around week 6 or 8 IMO, although nothing as impressive as the pistils you describe.
 
OrganicMechanic

OrganicMechanic

Member
When I got them from a friend last month they were newly rooted clones. They started pre-flowering a couple weeks after I brought them home. So, they had two weeks of Veg time.

I know it's very soon, and they are very young. This is why I'm worried about their overall performance.
I don't want to waste time and money with an unknown and possibly unstable clone. I also don't want to risk the probable pollination of my other strains; if this plant is unstable-enough to turn Hermie later on.

I've wanted this strain for years, and now that I have it, I don't want to give it up. Someone give me hope, lol!
 
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fxbane

Active Member
I wouldn't worry about it too much, it seems like it could be a rapid flowering plant. While I've no experience with that strain I have had a few that pre-flowered heavily in veg, all were taken from clones. I would be more nervous if it was from seed. You are doing the right thing in keeping an eye on it, which is all you can do for now. Check it every two days and if it shows signs of turning, toss it. A true bubblegum is worth the risk and an unmistakable taste.
 
OrganicMechanic

OrganicMechanic

Member
Fxbane- Thanks dude. My friend did mention this cutting matures before 8 weeks (fast finisher).

Do all/most fast finishers show pre-flowers in Veg?

Just checked on it today. It has more calyxes with pistils emerging, under almost every node. Some pistils are turning brown. the plants is only 7 inches tall (less than a month old) with no significant branching. She stinks pretty heavily already. She's got me confused. Lady troubles. lol
 
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fxbane

Active Member
When breeders wan't a fast flowering plant one of the characteristics they select for is early showing of sex. Personally, I don't like it when show themselves before 6 weeks from seed but numerous clones I've taken show before that time. If there are no obvious hermie issues and it's just individual calyxes at the nodes you are fine. Chances are the clone is a lot older than your friend is letting on.
 
weedyGrin

weedyGrin

Member
OrganicMechanic said:
Hey Guys, I have a quick question for anyone that has experience with strains that pre-flower in Veg.

I Picked up a Bubble Gum cutting from a friend last month. Very excited. I haven't tasted this strain in 10 years. Anyways..... the problem is - this plant is showing pistils that are very long (1cm) from almost every node on the plant. Their is also a single "very small" calyx cluster, with trichomes on it, under one of the plant nodes as well.

This BBGUM plant is in the Veg chamber with all my other plants. My other plants don't show pre-flowers.

I've been growing for a few years and have seen this before on another strain. It was a pain in the ass to get successful "rooted" clones from it and they took twice as long to root... Also,that particular strain turned Hermie later on in it's life - week 5 of flowering. These are problems I need to avoid today.

I talked to the friend who gave me the Bubble Gum clone. He told me his bubble gum plants do the same thing. He said their is no delay/problem when taking cuttings and No Hermie issues in flowering. He's only had the strain for a couple months, which leads me to not fully trust him.

Is bubble gum a strain that normally pre-flowers in Veg?

Can I believe my friend?

Any help is much appreciated. thanks
Click to expand...
Funny you mentioned hermie in your other example. There's definitely something weird going on as it shouldn't be showing pistils this early. Either it was clipped when the mother was close to flowering or it's a hermie imo. Either way would be a pain and I would try to find another clone.

I bet that that clone becomes stunted and doesn't even barely grow. I've seen it before in other clones is all. Not trying to rag on your clone.
 
OrganicMechanic

OrganicMechanic

Member
WeedyGrin- The BBGUM clone looks just as healthy, tall, and vigorous as my other veg plants. No pollen sacs. I've been through this before with a strain I purchased from a dispensary a long time ago. I don't want to repeat this again.

Faxbane- I assumed breeders would do that. Just a guess.

I'll definitely trim off the female flowers when I take new cuttings from it later this month. I'll keep her going. Gotta find out the hard way.

More suggestions are welcome.

Has anyone grown Bubble Gum Before?
 
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Nocturn3

Well-Known Member
You're worrying over nothing IMO. They were clones, which generally means that they were taken from a mature female, so the fact that the clones themselves have had only two weeks of veg time means nothing. Preflowers are nothing to worry about, and the fact that you have had bad experiences with another strain that also happened to show preflowers early does not mean that this strain will have the same issues.
 
Thedillestpickle

Thedillestpickle

Well-Known Member
If your friend put his mother plant into 12/12 even for just a few days before taking the cuttings that could cause some flowering.
If your just seeing regular preflower(no bunches of calyxes) than that is 100% totally normal and nothing to be worried about at all.

If your seeing flower clusters than I would suspect your friend had the mother under 12/12 for a few days before taking the cuttings.

If that is what he did than your bubblegum will start growing funny 3 blade or even 1 blade leaves all over while it vegges
 
OrganicMechanic

OrganicMechanic

Member
Nocturn - I was more hopeful, than worried. My friend has seeds and offered some to me if this clone didn't work out.

Pickle - Thanks dude. That's the most logical thing I've heard yet. I'll veg it out and then take some cuttings w/o flowers.

I was mostly curious to hear from any prior bubble gum growers. Just curious if this strain is prone to doing this or not.
 
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