7/15/14 - First Grow: Medical Cannabis Grow
Medical conditions I hope to ameliorate/address:
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia on the left side. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a problem with the 9th cranial nerve. The nerve runs from the base of the brain past your ears and throat, including the tongue area. (Some people have heard of trigeminal neuralgia, the 5th cranial nerve causing intense face pain. This is like that only a different nerve.) “Patients with Glossopharyngeal neuralgia typically experience pain that is lancinating or ‘stabbing.’ The pain is usually restricted to one side of the back of the throat and the rear portion of the tongue but some patients may experience sharp pain deep within the ear. While the episodes of pain may occur hundreds of times per day, there are discrete pain free intervals between attacks. Patients often report that the pain can be triggered in a characteristic way such as by drinking cold liquids. Although patients with GPN may not appear sick to others, they suffer greatly.”
Now, I go into this in detail because, lucky me, it is a “rare condition” by the numbers. I have read in one (pretty much the only) support site that folks were indeed experiencing some relief with Cannabis. I want to be one more person who is putting another story out there on the internets regarding Glossopharyngeal neuralgia and, if this weed works for me, some hope for those looking for a remedy that steers clear of surgery [fotheloveofgod they drill a hole in your head] or Big Pharma.
Also in the health mix:
Insomnia
Arthritis in my right knee which developed from an old injury
Also, I feel I have some residual PTSD and physical debilitation due to work stress over time, but have never been diagnosed on this.
That said, I do NOT have high expectations on Medical Cannabis working for me. Just medium expectations. I can live with some pain if it means avoiding these pharmaceuticals and getting some sleep. Sleep may be the number one problem at this time.
That said, this will be primarily a grow journal. Hopefully the first of MANY grow journals with awesome pictures of healthy buds.
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7/16/14
Started this journal to document my first grow – big mistakes, what did and didn’t work, glorious triumphs – so that I can learn to develop quality medicine for myself.
Starting from the beginning: Back in January I told my pal B that I wanted to start growing my own meds. I haven’t smoked since I was in my early 30’s, but B still does at times. So B hands me this baggie with about 15 seed in it to start me off. I have no Idea what type they are (neither did B) or how long they had been laying around his house.
From January through February I read everything I could and watched all the YouTube videos I could about Medical Cannabis and growing Cannabis. 420 Magazine was (is) the very best resource EVER and from you all I gained what I thought was enough knowledge to make a start. There’s so much information and inspiration on this place like no other site I’ve ever been to – that’s coming from a tech nerd (me) who is always looking into everything. Bless the wonderful Internets and 420 for the endless wealth of cannabis info anyone could ever want. I had no idea.
Users Buckshot's Perpetual LED journal and Boss's Poor Mans Grow journal are but two great examples of information and inspiration here at 420.
In March I started a grow with half the seeds B gave me, but just as 2 of them sprouted I had to leave town on emergency family business which lasted on-and-off for about 3 months. So, there you go. I guess this is really my second grow.
At the beginning of July, I germinate the rest of the seeds I got from B. I put them in a glass of warm water for close to 24 hours to see which sink, which float. This step may not be necessary when purchasing seeds from a reputable source, but I’m pretty sure these random seeds have been laying around for a couple years even.
Next day about 4 of the seeds sunk to the bottom of the glass and I plant them in plastic disposable cups filled loosely with a soil mix. For the soil mix I went with what was available in my town rather than order special stuff on-line. I may need to change this approach in the future. I purchased top-soil with peat moss, and organic potting soil with fertilizer. I didn’t want potting soil that contained fertilizer, but there is no such thing here in this town! I guess we’re too small for anything fancier than an under stocked Lowe's and a Wally World.
I filled each cup as follows: Mix of potting soil and top soil in the bottom 2/3rds of the cup. Mixed it to try and reduce the nutrients in the potting soil. Filled the rest of the cups up with just the top soil. One seed per cup covered loosely and watered.
Now, during this time I made my
FIRST BIG MISTAKE:
I made the decision to put some money into this first experimental grow by getting an LED lighting set up since I’m committed to growing no matter how many mistakes I make while learning. Now, choosing LED lighting is NOT the mistake. I’ve been following a lot of grow journals here that use LEDs successfully as well as positive LED feedback from other sources. The mistake I made was: TRYING TO SAVE MONEY by purchasing a Diamond Series from some damn scammer. This guy uses the company name ‘East Coast Hydroponics.’ When I see on the Fed Ex tracking site that the light shipped from China I understand what I've done. I'm an idiot who ordered a Chinese knock-off.
I refused shipment and got my money back and am paying the extra money [“extra money”? LOLOL] to now buy direct from Advanced Lighting.
In the mean time I placed the cups on top the dryer as a heat source if needed [it was needed a few days] and under my SAD [seasonal affective disorder] lamp without the UV diffuser: 2 x 55 watt 4000 kelvin - 10,000 LUX CFL
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One seed sprouted. One. Here we go. The sprout looked good and I moved it and the light to the spare room closet. Again, for warmth, I put a heating pad under the drip pan i have the sprout on.
I ordered 110w Diamond series from Advanced now that that other company refunded my money. Have been taking sprout outside in the mid-afternoon sun for a couple hours to get some real light, heat and air.
Investing the money in this light for one sprout from unknown origins seem ridiculous, but I'm going to go through this first grow all the way (as long as this plant lasts!) before I invest in buying seeds. I wonder what my next mistake will be...
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7/20/14
Had to go out of town for the weekend. Left my plant in the care of my roommate H. Hope all goes well. The new sprout still looked hearty when I left, with a thick stem - not too leggy and the first two true leaves looked robust. I don't have a delivery date for the new light yet - concerned that the SAD lamp won't be enough light, and that H wouldn't track the lighting this weekend.
When I got back from out of town I found that the second pair of true leaves had emerged, but the first leaves were drooping. Put the plant out in the sun while I put Mylar on the walls around the grow area.
Seemed to do the trick. I sure wish that Diamond series light would get here.
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