Cachalote growing is really simple, as long as you follow very simple guidelines
In this article, we are going to talk, briefly and precisely, about a marijuana variety known as Cachalote, its effects and how to grow it as well as aiming to provide some general tips on indoor-outdoor marijuana growing.
Cachalote effect, fragrance and flavor
This mostly-sativa hybrid comes from a mixture between Widow and an old Haze. The result was a super-producer, with almost immediate effect, which is physically stimulating and very cerebral. The strong psychoactive effect is due to the high THC level, concentrated in their buds; as well as being really relaxing, Sperm-Whale is also useful for patients fighting symptoms of illnesses, treatments or chronic pains.
Concerning fragrance and flavor, it spreads an intense Widow fragrance with hints of lemon along with a spicy and strong aroma of incense; the smoke is very heavy, thick and white and, once you have smoked a Cachalote joint, it will be like the botafumeiro walking around your room.
This marvelous vine is famous because of its characteristic incense flavor, and its high production; it is rated above the rest of the varieties in the bank. Few cannabis varieties are able to produce the large crop of a Cachalote grow.
How to grow it
Cachalote growing is really simple, as long as you follow very simple guidelines: first of all, it is necessary to point out that the vegetative behavior of the variety, and our tips, will change depending on an indoor or outdoor growing.
Outdoors
Outdoors, Cachalote is a high-freightage plant with a very vigorous growing. Concerning its structure, the main stem is able to reach heights of two and a half meters, producing robust side branches with the shape of a candelabrum. Regarding its proper development, Cachalote needs a lot of soil, sun, water and fertilizers; this way, Cachalote will become a big-sized plant with an unbeatable production.
However, if you do not provide a discreet, secluded place, be careful: its size and odor can make its growing very difficult without drawing attention.
The flourishing period also needs to be taken into account. Cachalote is a late-flourishing variety; its flourishing is slow, and its flourishing cycle is longer than average, so it is not a proper plant for climatic zones with short summers and low temperatures, since it will not have enough time to complete flourishing. In short-summer zones, sun and good weather will finish when Cachalote has not flourished completely, so flourishing will get short-stuck and the crop will be a disaster.
Moreover, if we wait too long for the buds to be totally grown-up, coldness and humidity will probably increase the chances of it attacked by fungi like mildew, oidium or botrytis; these fungi are easily reproduced in damp, cold environments, so the risk of attack is very high.
Lastly, it is tragic when these illnesses destroy our growing in the short term, wasting the whole crop suddenly at the last minute, so we recommend Cachalote for geographical locations in climatic zones where summer is long, sunny and hot; otherwise, you would be better off choosing a variety with faster flourishing genetics.
Indoors
On the contrary to the above information, Cachalote will be very productive indoors, but you will have to be very careful when changing the photoperiod since its vigorous growing, as well as its big size, can provide space problems; Cachalote tends to double or triple its size once it starts to flourish, so many growers wait too long before changing to flourishing light and, when they finally proceed, it is too late. The plants grow in excess, the growing space is too reduced for the size of the vines, and the power of the light is not enough for a proper flourishing. This means only one thing: disaster. Accordingly, keep in mind that you have to make the vines flourish when they are very short, calculating that, once the photoperiod changes, the size will double or triple.
Besides this, you have to know that Cachalote flourishing is slightly slower than average, so it needs another week for the buds to reach a complete flourishing; this makes Cachalote crops slightly slower, but it is compensated by their big productivity.
General growing tips
Previously, we have provided precise tips for proper Cachalote growing, but general parameters regarding a proper growing functioning have been skipped, no matter what the growing variety is.
Obviously, a wide range of factors and parameters have to be taken into account. Concerning successful marijuana growing, there are so many different factors that we would need a whole growing guide for them to be summarized, so, following up, we are going to synthesize the most essential ones – if you need further support then you can consult a growing guide, regarding precise information.
Germination
Wet a napkin, put the seed on it, cover it with another wet napkin, introduce everything to a Tupperware and close it. Keep in mind that the napkin, on which we germinate the seed, does not have to be swamped. In a few days, the seed will have to be opened, and a seedling will poke out. Once the root, and the two leaves of the seedling, can be seen, the seedling needs to be separated from the napkins, and introduced in soil.
Irrigation
Control the pH of irrigation water (acidity) EC (electro-conductivity) from germination to flourishing. If these two parameters are not controlled, the plants will not be able to assimilate their nutrients properly, and they will not be properly developed in any of the vegetative phases. You will need a pH/EC measurer to control these parameters.
Humidity and temperature
Humidity and temperature are very important parameters for marijuana grows and, obviously, they are parameters which can be easily controlled indoors but the climate of the zone controls these parameters outdoors. You need to get a thermohygrometer to control these parameters and the air needs to be constantly moving, so you can use a small clip fan.
Temperature
Keep in mind that the ideal temperature is from 22 to 24 degrees, with a top increase of 29, and a minimum of 8.
Recommended temperatures:
▪ Seedling: Recently-born plant, 20 – 25 ▪ Growing: 22 – 28 ▪ Flourishing: 20 – 26 ▪ Final Phase: one/two weeks before cutting, grow room 18 – 24 to stimulate the resin. Low temperature, at the end of the growing, makes hard buds and high resin production. Humidity: recommended humidity is 50% – 60% during growing phase and 40% – 50% during flourishing. Reducing humidity during flourishing diminishes the risk of illnesses and plagues
For illnesses and plagues, prevention is always recommendable before fighting as prevention is better than cure. For prevention, what we can do is maintain a level of grow room hygiene: use sterilized tools, do not enter grow space with clothes that we have used outdoors and, lastly, spray the plants with potassium soap once a week during the flourishing phase. Preventing illnesses and plagues during growing is very important because, during flourishing, the buds are being formed, and the use of products is very dangerous.
Cutting, drying and curing
Use a magnifier to observe the color and shape of the trichomes; when some of these are milk-colored, and others amber, and all of them have the shape of a lollipop, it means that the vines are ready to be cropped. Once you cut the plants, cut the bigger leaves too, and peel the leaves which are stuck to the bud. Once you have the buds without leaves, let them dry, hanging upside down in an aired, dark room, avoiding humidity excesses. Once the buds get dry – bending branches until they crack and get split, the following step is to introduce them in glass pots or plastic Tuppeware to heal them. The tins need to be opened every day, or every other day, to substitute inner air. After a healing month, the buds will be ready to be consumed.
Conclusion
These have been some guidelines for you to deal with Cachalote growing, concerning all of its general and specific needs. If you keep in mind the previous post, your Cachalote growing will be totally successful, producing an abundant quality crop, with effects and flavors that will surprise the most sybarite consumers; needless to say, you should not hesitate to taste this distinguished variety which is gaining a reputation among the cannabis classics.
Written by Gea Seeds https://geaseeds.com
Originally published in Weed World Magazine Issue 136
