Feminized Pollen Collection - PL1 & PL4

BudMunchies 03/25/25: This grow begins with clones taken from PL1 and PL4, the standout phenotypes from my previous Purple Lemonade run. Rather than starting from seed, I’m preserving specific traits I’ve already observed—structure, vigor, and aroma—by replicating these plants through cloning. The aim isn’t just to flower them again but to push toward genetic preservation and controlled breeding by producing feminized pollen through chemical reversal. To start, I took six cuttings from each plant and placed them into a Clone King aeroponic cloner. Each cutting was dipped in CloneX rooting gel for 15–20 seconds before being placed in the system, a step that helps accelerate early root development by delivering hormones directly to the cut site. The Clone King reservoir was filled with reverse osmosis (RO) water, free of any added nutrients or pH adjustments. This clean, neutral starting point minimizes variables during the delicate rooting stage and avoids introducing compounds that could inhibit early root growth. I’m expecting visible roots within 7 to 10 days. Once development is strong enough to support transplanting, I’ll select the most vigorous clone from each group and move them into 1-gallon AirPots filled with Roots Organics soil. This soil offers a balanced, aerated medium that supports aggressive vegetative growth without requiring much additional amendment at this stage. The two selected clones will be grown to harvest in a 2x2 AC Infinity tent under the S22 LED light. For now, the light is set to 10% power, providing around 100–120 PAR at canopy level—low enough to prevent stress, but enough to keep the plants actively photosynthesizing as they establish roots. This controlled environment will allow for precise monitoring as I guide them through the early stages and ultimately into flower. The next update will come after root systems have formed and the final two plants have been selected to move forward.

BudMunchies 04/06/25: Twelve days after placing cuttings into the Clone King, all clones have successfully developed roots. Early signs of rooting appeared on day 6 for a few of them, and by day 10, every cutting had begun pushing out roots. While root vigor varied across the group, the consistency of success at this stage is encouraging and speaks to the reliability of CloneX and the aeroponic method when paired with clean RO water. I selected five of the healthiest clones to move forward, potting them into 1-gallon containers. Three of those came from PL4 and two from PL1. One plant from each genotype will be kept as a new mother plant to preserve the genetic lines for future projects. The remaining three—one PL1 and two PL4s—will continue on as part of this grow journal through flower. One of the PL4s is being designated for chemical reversal. The goal is to induce hermaphroditism in that plant and produce feminized pollen, which will then be used to pollinate both the PL1 and the second PL4. This will allow me to create both outcrossed and selfed feminized seeds, as well as collect and store the resulting pollen for future use. Four of the selected clones were transplanted into 1-gallon AirPots, with the fifth placed in a fabric pot since I’ve temporarily run out of available AirPots. All were planted in Roots Organics Original soil, which I pre-moistened before transplanting. Introducing rooted clones into dry soil can create unnecessary transplant shock—roots prefer contact with a moist medium from the start to ease the transition and promote uptake. Now that they’re in soil, the focus will be on recovery. Moving from an aeroponic environment into a dense medium is a stressful shift for the plants, and while some temporary drooping or slowed growth is expected, I’m looking forward to seeing how quickly they bounce back and resume vigorous vegetative growth.

BudMunchies 04/13/25: At the three-week mark, all five clones have now fully adjusted to life in soil and are showing signs of healthy vegetative growth. While the transition from the Clone King’s aeroponic environment into Roots Organics soil presented some clear stressors, all five plants ultimately pulled through. The PL4 clones handled the transplanting and environmental changes with more resilience, maintaining better color and vigor throughout. In contrast, the PL1 clones showed more visible signs of stress, particularly through leaf yellowing, which is a common indicator of early nutrient imbalance or root zone stress during establishment. Even so, they’ve stabilized and are now growing steadily alongside their counterparts. With rooting complete and the plants acclimated, I’ve taken the next step in streamlining the project. I culled the original mother plants and moved one healthy PL1 and one PL4 clone into the mother tent to take their place. These new mothers will provide a genetic backup in case I decide to run either line again. That leaves three plants in the 2x2 flowering tent: one PL1 and two PL4 clones, which are now the focus of this breeding cycle. The plan is to keep them in veg for just one more week before flipping to a 12/12 light schedule. Once the flip occurs, I’ll begin the process of chemically reversing one of the PL4 clones to produce feminized pollen. That pollen will then be used to pollinate both the PL1 and the second PL4 clone, creating both outcrossed and selfed feminized seeds, while also allowing for pollen collection and storage. This upcoming week will be about letting the plants build as much vegetative energy as possible before entering flower and beginning the critical window for reversal.

BudMunchies 04/20/25: This week marks a quiet but important phase in the grow—what I’d describe as a period of stabilization. The clones have clearly transitioned into a more comfortable state within their 1-gallon pots, showing signs of settling in and beginning to establish normal, rhythmic growth patterns. The stress of transplant shock is behind them now, and while growth has been relatively slow, it’s also been steady and healthy. I had originally planned to initiate the flowering cycle this week by switching the light schedule to 12/12, but after observing their current state, I’ve decided to extend the vegetative phase by one more week. This decision is based on the principle of not rushing the flip; giving the plants a little more time to fill out and establish their structure will result in better outcomes, both in flower formation and in the success of the upcoming reversal. Before switching the lights next week, I plan to lightly cut them back to shape their structure and open up light penetration, especially since space in the 2x2 tent will be tight as the plants stretch. Water needs have been minimal so far—typical for freshly transplanted clones in new soil with limited root mass. I’ve only had to water them once since moving them into their current containers, which aligns with expectations. Roots are still expanding and just beginning to reach the edges of the pot, and I anticipate an uptick in water uptake and overall growth as we move into the flowering phase next week.