Expogrow: Much more than a Cannabis Fair

This past weekend, from 14 to 16 of September, the 7th edition of Expogrow was held in the Basque Country, an absolutely un-missable event for the cannabis community.

Once again, the Ficoba exhibition centre in Irún hosted the fair, with a considerable increase in the space for stands: 5,000m2 spread over 4 pavilions for exhibitors and professionals from the cannabis sector, as well as a large outdoor area of 7,000m2 for leisure activities, chill-out areas and food trucks, alongside numerous fun things to do.

Poster for the 7th Expogrow 2018

With 12,000m2 of surface area, Expogrow has continued to expand since its beginnings in 2012 and has grown to become the largest cannabis event in Europe. According to the organisers, Expogrow 2018 broke all records with 181 exhibitors, a score of countries represented and more than 2,000 accredited professionals, a new participation success with almost 15,000 visitors attending over the 3 days of the expo.

Alchimiaweb, Philosopher Seeds y Reggae Seeds at Expogrow 2018

This year, as with all others, our team from Alchimiaweb, Philosopher Seeds and Reggae Seeds traveled to Irún to participate in Expogrow. At stand B301 we installed our Plinko Alchimia game, with a wide variety of prizes for all participants with gifts ranging from a grinder, …

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What is curry?

Curry is the western name for a group of different dishes prepared with a mixture of spices commonly used in Asian cuisine. This type of recipes spread across the globe mainly thanks to the diffusion of Asian cuisine during the times of British colonies in Asia, around the XVIII century.

Thai green chicken curry with cannabis

Types of curry

In short, curry is a paste prepared with different Asian spices – always depending on the location – which may include: chili, basil, celery, saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, lemongrass, turmeric, ginger, mustard, pepper or nutmeg, among many others. Each country and area has its own recipe, so it is not strange to see plenty of variations of this recipe. For example, curry in India usually contains cardamom, nutmeg, peanut, cumin, ginger and coriander and mustard seeds, thus producing a perfectly balanced blend which results in an extremely complex taste.

On the other hand, Thai curry is normaly fresher, with lime, lemongrass, fresh coriander, fresh basil, fresh ginger and galanga. In this way, the flavour is fresher and citrus especially when compared to the traditional recipes from India. We are also going to use some cannabis infused milk, so you’ll have to have at hand some buds of your favourite cannabis strain!

Turmeric is one of

…

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Plant training – a low-stress alternative to pruning

Cannabis is a robust, vigorous and fast-growing plant which responds very well to crop optimisation techniques such as: pruning; propagation via cuttings; hydroponic cultivation and more. In a previous article we looked at the so-called “destructive” techniques like pruning, super-cropping, etc, and in this article we’re going to talk about a very useful technique both for indoor and outdoor growers: Training or tying down, often referred to by cannabis growers as LST (low stress training). This technique originated in the agricultural sector, where for generations vineyards and orchards have been cultivated using a variety of training techniques, to facilitate harvesting and improve the productivity of the crop.

Plant training is a traditional technique in vineyards and orchards

Why train cannabis plants?

The most common use of training is to limit the height of our cannabis plants, whether it’s in order to make sure they stay at a discreet height and out of sight below a wall or fence when we’re growing outdoors or to keep the tops of the plants at the proper distance from our indoor grow lamps, we can bend and them to manipulate their structure, without needing to top them or cut the growing tip.

Training works to keep our plants out of sight

…

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Ozone, the cannabis cultivator’s friend

Ozone (O3) is a substance that is a colourless gas at ambient temperature and pressure, giving off an acrid smell; Thanks to its high oxidising power, this gas has a great ability to disinfect and eliminate odours. Nowadays, ozone has many applications in areas as diverse as industry, agriculture, or domestic sanitation, being of particular interest for the indoor cannabis cultivation.

The ozone molecule (O3) is composed of three oxygen atoms (O2) formed by dissociating the two atoms that make up oxygen (Image © Siyavula Education)

Atmospheric ozone is best known for forming the infamous ozone layer; This is a type of pure ozone that is found in different concentrations between 10 and 40 km above sea level, its two main functions being to act as a filter for ultraviolet rays emitted by the sun and as an air purifier.

Ozone has the honor of being the first allotrope of a chemical element identified by science. In 1785, a Dutch chemist called Martinus van Marum noticed a strange smell while carrying out experiments with electric shocks and water and believed that the smell came from the electrical reactions; in fact, that smell came from the ozone he had created without realising it.

Since then, both the techniques to generate ozone and …

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At this point in the season, when outdoor plants begin flowering and indoor grows are suffering the highest temperatures of the year, it’s common for pests to make their first appearance in our garden, which can be particularly difficult to combat precisely because of the high temperatures, that on most occasions will favour their development and propagation. Our plants are therefore more sensitive than ever to insect pests and, later on and once they have developed buds, to the dreaded fungi.

Because of this, it’s the season of the year where the most insecticides (early summer) and fungicides (late summer) are used, because no grower wants to watch their efforts and dedication be ruined by a pest or disease. However… are we making the best use of pesticides? How can we limit its impact on our health and the environment? This article was born from my own experience during the years that I spent cultivating cannabis outdoors in my garden, when I saw the fauna in it gradually diminish and, fortunately, how I’ve seen its resurgence in recent years thanks to a more responsible use of phytosanitary products.

A healthy cannabis plant will produce first-rate flowers

Organic and chemical pesticides

The first distinction to take before deciding to use any of these products is if we want it …

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Carbohydrates or sugars in the cultivation of cannabis

What are carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are a group of compounds that include sugars, starches and cellulose among many other substances. These are formed by carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

They are vitally important compounds for both plant and animal life. They perform vital functions so that plants can develop healthily and problem-free in all stages of their life and also serve as a source of food for the animals that feed on plants.

Bubble Kush, 44 days, fed with aminoacids

There are two major types of carbohydrates, the so-called structural and the non-structural. The structural carbohydrates are known to make up part of the cellulose that forms plants cell walls, giving rigidity to the stem, branches and roots, etc., all parts of the plant that keep it standing upright, and without them plants would fall over.

Non-structural carbohydrates are stored in many parts of the plant, for example the stem, roots, rhizomes, stolons, as well as the aerial part of the plants where they play a vital role as the source of energy that the plant relies upon in order to carry out its metabolic functions. They are the fuel the plant needs to keep growing.

But exactly what functions do they perform in plants, and in particular, how do they …

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When it comes to cannabis, the part of the plant that gets all the attention is naturally the bit we’re all growing for: the flowers. But while it’s easy to be enamoured with the beautiful frosty flowers we shouldn’t overlook the rest, because behind the bud there’s a whole plant, with all its component parts, each playing an essential role in bringing us our precious harvest.

Here at Alchimiaweb we strongly believe that the more we know about our favourite plants, the more success we’ll have cultivating them, and the happier we’ll be with the results! For these reasons here we’re going to take a closer look at the cannabis plant and identify all the different elements of its anatomy to help you get to know this wonderful plant a little bit better.

1, male flower, enlarged detail; 2, pollen sac; 3, pollen sac; 4, pollen grain; 5, female flower with bract; 5, female flower, bract removed; 6, female seed cluster, longitudinal section; 7, seed with bract; 8, seed without bract; 9, seed without bract; 10, seed cross section; 11, seed longitudinal section; 12, seed without hull (Franz Eugen Köhler 1887)

The Cannabis seed

For most of us, our introduction to cultivation comes when we buy or are gifted some cannabis seeds for the first time, so …

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Dank Genetics is a seed bank created from a community of growers from around the world established in the UK, formed with the intention of creating excellent quality cannabis strains either as regular or feminised seeds.

The search for genetic excellence has led Dank Genetics to use only the best strains on the market to make their own dank creations. So, unless the new genetics can pass their strict quality tests, they won’t be distributed, which means we can safely say that all of the strains presented by Dank Genetics are excellent options. Let’s look through the most representative current strains of this exciting seed bank below.

Dank Genetics

Fresh Orange, refreshing orange juice

A strain created by crossing Mandarina Kush, from Trichome Jungle Seeds, with Sour Dubble, also known as Sour Dubs, which results in a tasty, powerful and euphoric variety.

Let’s look at the origin of its ancestors to give us an idea of what growers can expect from Fresh Orange.

Fresh Orange from Dank Genetics

On one side we have the Mandarina Kush, a big winner at Spannabis in 2015, where it took the first positions both in the flower and the solventless extraction categories. It is a tasty poly-hybrid created by crossing Agent Orange x (Pinneaple x Dynamite …

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It’s high summer and many of us are on vacation or preparing to go camping, to festivals, or to simply relax, enjoy the sun and have a good time. For cannabis lovers, the long summer holidays also represent the best opportunity to calmly savour our harvest… for example, enjoying a quiet summer afternoon with a good Sativa can be priceless, or taking a dip at the beach after a nice tasty dab.

In this article we’d like to suggest a few products from our catalogue that we think are ideal for cannabis smokers on holiday or who simply want to enjoy summer and share their herb with their friends in a comfortable and easy way.

Happy swimming!

It’s time to relax and enjoy the summer

Abscent anti-odour bags

Ideal to travel discreetly, Abscent offers a range of anti-odour products such as bags, backpacks, purses, toiletry bags… all of the highest quality and specially designed to neutralise and contain the powerful aromas given off by our cannabis. With them we can store and move our buds or cannabis concentrates without the pungent smell raising suspicion. In addition, Abscent models with larger capacity will also allow us to transport the more bulky accessories for the consumption of our favourite plant: grinders, pipes, bongs, etc.

Manufactured with several layers of activated …

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Famous grower Kyle Kushman, creator of Strawberry Cough and expert in medical marijuana, presents Vegamatrix, his own brand of vegan and environmentally friendly nutrients for plants. Mainly composed of plant ingredients, with Vegamatrix you’ll increase both the size and terpene content of your buds, which results in bigger yields and improved scent and taste.

In this article we present you the Vegamatrix range of nutrients, which we’ve tried from seed to harvest indoors with – we must admit – excellent results. Of course, you’ll also find some tips to increase their efficacy and get the best possible results.

Vegamatrix nutrients for plants

Vegamatrix range of nutrients for plants

The range of organic nutrients formulated by Vegamatrix includes the following products: Base nutrients for both the growth and bloom stages (Grow and Bloom), a stimulator rich in magnesium and calcium (Boost), an enzyme complex (Prime-Zyme), an aminoacid-based cocktail (Amp-It), a bloom booster (Big N Sticky), a growth booster made from seaweed (Hard N Quick) and, last but not least, an effective insecticide/fungicide formulated from plant ingredients (FTB).

One of the first striking things about these quality nutrients is the fact that almost all the products of the range are used in each and every watering. Indeed, …

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Moulds can quickly ruin your plants during the last weeks of the flowering stage, that’s why many growers choose mould resistant cannabis strains to guarantee success. This type of genetics are resistant to high relative humidity levels, rarely developing moulds like botrytis or powdery mildew even if grown in humid climates.

If you checked the link above, you may have seen a wide rage of mould resistant varieties. Still, we want to make your decision easier for you by listing some of our favourites, genetics that – for one reason or another – have captivated us for their excellent results in humid climates. Let’s see them now!

Harvest time is coming!

Viper City OG XIII by Moxie Seeds

Moxie Seeds are known for the amazing amount of trichomes produced by their strains, a trait highly appreciated by lovers of resin extracts. Their Viper City OG XIII produces outstanding amounts of cannabinoids and terpenes, and is also highly resistant to excess relative humidity and diverse types of moulds.

This mostly Indica hybrid comes from a backross between Viper City OG and Lemon OG. It grows relatively compact but with plenty of side branches, focusing bud production on the main stem. It is also resistant to pests and nutrient imbalances, being a great choice for beginner growers.

Viper City

…

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Pakistan Chitral Kush, Grape Ape, Grandaddy Purple, Serious Six, Peyote Purple, Panama Red…all of these cannabis strains show a wonderful colour palette which goes from reddish to purple. Indeed, and while the most common colour in cannabis is green, both leaves and buds may turn orange, pink, purple, black, red, blue…These awesome colours are often one of the traits that breeders want to fix, since it is also one of the most demanded traits by users. 93% of cannabis smokers have noted that they’ve been influenced by the colour of the strain sometime. But, how does cannabis develop such beautiful shades?

A colourful indoor cannabis garden

Natural pigments

When we think about plants, the first colour that comes to mind is green. Indeed, the world of plants id dominated by the green colour, but if we take a closer look we’ll soon realize that plants can also develop many other colours, which is explained by pigments. Pigments are chemical colorants, either from living organisms or synthetic. In cannabis plants, they’re are normally divided into several categories:

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is quite abundant in plant cells, representing around 70% of the pigments contained in one plant. It is responsible for the green colour and essential for the plants life, since it allows them to absorb the necessary …

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The use of humic and fulvic acids is becoming increasingly popular among all types of cannabis farmers, who can now take advantage of a healthy, rich and living soil that produces happy plants and therefore abundant harvests. Thanks to this substances, nutrient uptake and management are much more efficient, and root growth is simply spectacular.

Either if you’re using organic soil or hydroponic systems, using  humic and fulvic acids is a very easy way to ensure the best possible conditions for the roots of your plants. Indeed, it is especially recommended in hydroponic cultivation since these types of growing media do not contain nutrients nor microbial life. In this way, you get the most out of the nutrient solution that you’ve carefully prepared for your plants.

Quality soil produces quality flowers

Soil organic matter

Soil is composed by many substances, some of them resulting from a transformation process of certain molecules. Among the organic components of soil, we can find living organisms on the one hand and organic matter on the other, which usually comes from chemical and microbial transformation processes of organic wastes contained in the soil.

In turn, we can divide this organic matter into unaltered material (fresh, not processed or modified) and altered material (sometimes called humus), which are byproducts physically and chemically different from …

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Summer heat is comming, and with it the desire to consume fresh foods and drinks like fruit juices, salads, guacamole or, of course, pesto! Originary from the northwestern part of the country, from one of the smallest regions in Italy (Liguria), this delicious, classic Italian sauce has become a true classic across the planet, especially when mixed with pasta. Let us welcome it today to our Cannabis Kitchen section!

While the main ingredients of the traditional recipe are genoese basil, garlic, pine nuts, salt, parmesan or pecorino cheese and olive oil, there are plenty of variations of this popular sauce, like red pesto (with fresh or dried tomatoes) or using a wide variety of dried fruits which can be either mixed with the pine nuts or used to replace them (it is hard to find them in some places!). Today we invite you to make a delicious dish of pesto pasta with a new and exciting ingredient…you guessed right, cannabis!

Cannabis pesto pasta recipe

To prepare this recipe we’ll need the following ingredients. Keep in mind that, as happens with any other recipe, you should not hesitate to innovate and try new things if you wish! Remember that you can check our recipe for cannabis infused oil in this article Cannabis Pizza.

Ingredients for cannabis pesto

Ingredients

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Alchimia Grow Shop have recently introduced a new and interesting product, 100% legal cannabis buds with CBD. The THC content (<0,2%) of this flowers is far below the legal limit, while CBD content is up to 8%, so they’re especially aimed at those who want to benefit from the medicinal properties of CBD – and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids and terpenes – without getting “high”.

We invite you now to take a closer look at these new products and know more about their main characteristics.

Hemp cultivation is recovering its former importance

Legal cannabis buds?

Indeed, and as we already mentioned, THC levels in these buds are below the legal limit, thus being officially classified as “hemp”. Thus, you can freely – and legally – purchase and use these flowers in most countries where “marijuana” is illegal (that is to say, cannabis with high THC content). What is then the difference between this new product and the hemp flowers which have been already available for some time? Well, the main difference here – apart from growing techniques – is the genetics used to produce this buds, far superior from traditional hemp varieties.

Cannabinoid content of Orange Star

Despite most hemp strains contain considerable amounts of CBD and almost no THC, many of them have unpleasant scent and taste. In this …

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Alchimia Grow Shop have recently introduced a new and interesting product, 100% legal cannabis buds with CBD. The THC content (<0,2%) of this flowers is far below the legal limit, while CBD content is up to 8%, so they’re especially aimed at those who want to benefit from the medicinal properties of CBD – and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids and terpenes – without getting “high”.

We invite you now to take a closer look at these new products and know more about their main characteristics.

Hemp cultivation is recovering its former importance

Legal cannabis buds?

Indeed, and as we already mentioned, THC levels in these buds are below the legal limit, thus being officially classified as “hemp”. Thus, you can freely – and legally – purchase and use these flowers in most countries where “marijuana” is illegal (that is to say, cannabis with high THC content). What is then the difference between this new product and the hemp flowers which have been already available for some time? Well, the main difference here – apart from growing techniques – is the genetics used to produce this buds, far superior from traditional hemp varieties.

Cannabinoid content of Orange Star

Despite most hemp strains contain considerable amounts of CBD and almost no THC, many of them have unpleasant scent and taste. In this …

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We’ve recently added a new Spanish bank to our feminised seed catalogue, a bank that, despite its young age (it was founded in 2017), has already aroused enormous interest among cannabis growers and users. We’re talking about BSF Seeds, short for Bigger, Stronger and Faster that perfectly sums up the philosophy of this team of breeders when it comes to developing the cannabis varieties they offer. In this article we’ll familiarise you with this seed bank and its work.

BSF Seeds: Bigger, Stronger, Faster

The BSF Seeds catalogue is made up of both feminized and large size automatic varieties (also feminized), making them hugely popular with fans of auto varieties. As well as including some classics of the cannabis scene, the catalogue also gathers together some of the most coveted current hybrids of the moment, like Gorilla Glue, Tangie or the famous Zkittlez.

The breeding program followed by BSF is clear: select the most resistant, productive and fastest specimens to stabilise and fix these traits to obtain hybrids that are especially easy to grow and give excellent results, whether they are autoflowering seeds or photodependent varieties. If we factor in the high quality of the genetics from which they start their work, the formula for success seems assured! Furthermore, they’ve also used a very original formula to manage …

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Ganja, Collie, Kiki, Sinsemilla…cannabis has plenty of different names, especially in Jamaica, a small Caribbean island known around the world for its long relationship with this plant.

Indeed, Jamaica is a true place of reference with regard to cannabis cultivation for smokers worldwide. Its tropical climate and fertile soil are ideal for the cultivation of cannabis plants, especially Sativas. Moreover, it is also the place where the Rastafari movement was born, which promotes a religious use of ganja and has a large number of followers in the island. Still, the use of cannabis is widely spread among all social classes – not only Rastafarians – and is doubtless one of the most popular crops in the island. In this article we’ll tell you more about the relation of cannabis with this small Caribbean paradise.

7-mile Beach, Jamaica

Introduction of cannabis in Jamaica

Being British colony until 1962, Jamaica is a traditional producer of sugar, also cotton during the slavery period. The indigenous people from the island – the Arawak tribe – were exterminated before the arrival of the British by the Spanish colonizers, while the Commonwealth government forced thousands of slaves to move from Western Africa to Jamaica to work on plantations.

After the abolition of slavery in 1838, and while many slaves abandoned their …

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If we have a look at all the different pieces of equipment we need to set up an indoor cannabis grow, we can see that they fall into one of several categories according to the role they play in the grow tent: Illumination, ventilation, humidity control and heating are the main elements responsible for recreating as close as possible the natural cycles and ideal conditions for plant growth. The proper control and adjustment of these elements is crucial to achieving a great final result, with a healthy yield of the highest quality flowers.

Over time, various electronic devices designed to control the climate in cannabis grows have appeared on the market, these devices connect and coordinate all the elements required to recreate sunlight and climate, making it possible to program photoperiods, control air intake and extraction, and regulate temperature, humidity and pressure.

The grow space climate must be optimised to create the ideal environment for plant development.

A climate controller can save the grower a great deal of work, in addition to optimising electricity consumption. The effectiveness of a climate controller relies upon the sensors used to control and record the variations in temperature, humidity or air circulation inside the interior culture room.

Among the climate controllers that you can find in Alchimiaweb.com, here we’d like …

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The energizing effect of some cannabis strains is, without a doubt, a true favourite among many users. This uplifting feeling – often called “high” – is often associated to Sativa genetics with high THC content, although other plants with different cannabinoid ratios can provide a very pleasant, social and creative effect.

For this reason, and within the myriad of feminised seeds available on the market, we have selected 7 marijuana strains that will increase your creativity and social side, improve your mood and motivate you to perform daily activities. We hope you’ll enjoy their vibrant energy!

Sativa plants are known for their uplifting effect

Easy Haze by Philosopher Seeds

Easy Haze is one of the strains included in Philosopher Seeds Classic Line. Coming from a Special K backcross, her euphoric and almost psychedelic effect is ideal to listen to music or enjoy outdoor activities. She is used by many users to improve mood and induce a very pleasant feeling of full happiness.

She grows vigorous but with compact structure, traits inherited from the Yumbolt parent. On the other hand, the Kalimist parent provides its unique incensed and woody scent and intense Sativa effect. Yields are awesome, while THC content can reach 21%.

Easy Haze (aka K-13 Haze) by Philosopher Seeds

The scent of Easy Haze is intense, a blend …

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In this series of posts we’re taking a comprehensive look at a range of techniques used by growers to shape cannabis plants and facilitate cultivation. Pruning and training are essential tools to control the way our plants grow, whether to restrict height, maximise yields or as a management tool for the indoor cultivator trying to control multiple varieties in one grow space.

Pruning plants is a great way to maximise flower sites

When discussing these techniques, we can essentially split them into two basic types of method:

• Destructive pruning methods that effect some kind of damage on the plant, like pinching out, FIM, super-cropping etc.
• Non-destructive training techniques designed to minimise damage, such as LST (Low Stress Training), SCROG, etc.

Choosing between pruning or training as a method to control your plants is largely a matter of personal preference. Many gardeners dislike the “destructive” methods, which effectively damage the plant as part of the process, provoking a certain amount of stress and creating potential entry points for infection in the wounds left behind. For this reason some growers prefer to use non-destructive methods of bending and tying-down to control height and shape plants, an approach known as LST or Low Stress Training, which we examine in detail in another post. In this article we’re going to concentrate on …

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What is CBG?

• Name: Cannabigerol
• Formula: C21H32O2
• IUPAC name: 2-[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyl]-5-pentylbenzene-1,3-diol
• Molecular mass: 316,48 g/mol
• Boiling point: Not available
• Apearance: White powder/crystals

Discovered by Gaoni and Mechoulam in 1964, CBG or cannabigerol is one of the cannabinoids exclusively produced by the cannabis plant, which is stored in the trichome heads with the rest of cannabinoids and terpenes. While the CBG content in most plants is often low or very low – in most cases lower than 1% – this particular compound is crucial for cannabinoid synthesis, as we have known for the past 4 decades ( (Shoyama, Yagi and Nishioka, Phytochemistry Journal, October 1975). As a general rule, hemp contains higher amounts of CBG than commercial, narcotic cannabis strains.

CBG is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, which means it is produced by plants and does not “get you high”. It is believed that it has multiple medicinal properties which can be used to treat different conditions, and is also precursor – its acid form, to be exact – to the main cannabinoids (THCA, CBDA, CBCA) secreted in the trichome heads, which in turn explains the low percentage of CBG found in mature plants when compared to their THC or CBD content.

CBG (cannabigerol) molecule

CBG and the synthesis of cannabinoids

Cannabinoid synthesis in marijuana plants starts with the production of cannabigerolic …

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The history of this North American cannabis seed company Brothers Grimm is quite uncommon, especially if we take into account the huge success of their strains since they were first introduced in the market in 1996. Indeed, and before their withdrawal from the seed market in 2002, some of their genetics had already become true classics in the cannabis scene, with names that will surely sound familiar to you: Cinderella 99, Apollo 13, Killer Queen or Rosetta Stone just to name a few. Over time, this varieties have also become the baselines for many other hybrids from breeders across the globe.

Brothers Grimm Seeds, living history of cannabis breeding

The number of awards won by both Brothers Grimm Seeds varieties and other strains developed from their genetics is simply astounding. But, how did it all started? Let’s take a look now at the origins of this company, their flagship genetics and, of course, the exclusive interview with MrSoul!

Origins of Brothers Grimm Seeds

It all started when MrSoul – one of the founders of the company – contacted the dutch seed bank Super Sativa Seed Club in 1987. Soon after, he was already distributing their seeds throughout the American territory. The access to new and amazing genetics, as well as his knowledge on engineering (he had studied nuclear engineering …

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The use of medical cannabis to treat ailments and the symptoms of a large number of diseases is becoming increasingly common, as are the many users who testify to its effectiveness compared to the so-called “synthetic drugs”. While sometimes the use pharmaceutical medicines may be essential, we are increasingly more aware of the medicinal properties of cannabinoids and terpenes and how to use them, either to alleviate the symptoms caused by the disease itself, or to mitigate possible adverse effects of medications or treatments.

One condition for which cannabis seems to be of great help is endometriosis, a chronic disease estimated to affect more than 170 million women worldwide, and one that in many cases goes undiagnosed. This past March was the Endometriosis Awareness Month, a global initiative aiming to raise awareness of this problem and encourage governments and organisations to actively fight against this disease.

Cannabis can alleviate many of the symptoms of endometriosis

What is endometriosis?

As we saw in our article on cannabis and menstruation, each month women lose endometrial tissue during their period, the tissue that normally envelops the uterus. Endometriosis is a gynaecological disease in which said tissue (endometrium) also grows in other internal areas of the body such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes or intestines. We can define it as …

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What is the entourage effect?

The so-called entourage effect (sometimes referred to as the ensemble effect) is a term used for the first time in a study on the interaction between various compounds present in cannabis, published in the July 1998 issue of the European Journal of Pharmacology. This text (An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol cannabinoid activity) was written by researchers and scientists including Professor Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shabat among others, and demonstrates the increase in activity of a given cannabinoid thanks to the presence of another compound, in this case the esters of a fatty acid. However, as research has progressed over the years, this term has been coined to refer to the interaction, or synergy between the various cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids present in the plant that define the effects of cannabis.

Cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds act in synergy (Photo: Don Goofy )

In short, and as we will see in more detail below, it is a principle whereby the association between the different compounds present in cannabis can enhance (or mitigate) the effect of each one of them, in many cases improving the results given when administering isolated cannabinoids. A classic example of this is found in the potentiation of the effects of phytocannabinoids when THC and …

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Although here in Europe the use of water pipes is not as widespread as in the United States, there are a growing number of smokers who prefer to consume their weed or concentrates through what is commonly called a bong. It can be easy for newcomers to the world of water pipes to become dazzled and confused by the vocabulary and terms used to describe water pipe accessories and their characteristics.

In this article we present a comprehensive guide to help beginners understand all about bongs and bubblers, their principal features and also the main accessories available to add to your water pipe.

Bubbler, Heady Glass

Bubblers, rigs, bongs… these are just some terms used for the different water pipes available for the consumption of cannabis, whether in the form of flowers or as concentrates. Let’s take a look at some fundamental points to consider when buying a water pipe or accessories for a bubbler.

Connections, male or female?

Most glass pipes have at least one joint or connection to fit a bowl or the nail into.

These joints come in different diameters but generally they will be either 14mm or 18mm connections (although increasingly 10mm joints are used for dab rigs/oil bubblers). These connections are available in two different styles, either male or female, and it’s …

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EC meters are a very useful tool when growing cannabis since they allow growers to have full control over the nutrition of their plants. Today, with tens of nutrient brands offering their own formulations, it may be difficult to find the correct dosage for your plants, especially when nutrients or additives of different brands are mixed. Well, with the help of an EC meter you can easily check the exact amount of nutrients contained in your nutrient solution, which, as you’ll see in this article, makes things a lot easier.

Using pH and EC meters is recommended to achieve best results

EC meters are electronic devices which can either operate on batteries (portable models) or directly plugged into the mains (continuous meters). They measure the electrical conductivity of fluids, that is to say, the amount of salts dissolved in the water (the material’s capacity to conduct electric current). In this way, conductivity levels tell you the amount of salts (nutrients) contained in your nutrient solution.

Cannabis plants require a varying nutrition according to their growth stage. With the help of an EC meter, and especially in the case of hydroponic cultivation (coco coir, clay pebbles, deep water culture, etc), you can easily check the amount of nutrients and thus give your plants the correct nutrition.

Sistema DWC (Deep Water

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5 autoflowering strains that will surprise you

The quality of autoflowering (also known as automatic or simply auto) genetics have been greatly improved over the past years. Today, cannabis breeders develop top quality auto versions of some of the most acclaimed photoperiod varieties, so this type of genetics is being increasingly used by many growers.

Auto strains are ideal for those with small growing spaces, to make several outdoor crops per year easily or for those who have an outdoor growing space with light pollution (which can make it impossible to grow photoperiod strains). While just a few years ago the quality of these strains was mediocre, today you can find literally hundreds of autoflowering strains coming from the best genetics on the market.

We want to make things easy for you, that’s why today we present you a list of 5 extraordinary auto varieties that you should definitely try if you’re interested in this useful type of cannabis plants. New and classic strains, CBD-rich plants, high yielding genetics…you’ll find whatever you’re looking for!

Commercial auto strains where first created from Cannabis Ruderalis genetics

High Mass ASB S1 by Xtreme Seeds

If you’re looking the get the most out of your growing space, Super Auto strains are your target. While keeping the autoflowering trait, these genetics grow much larger than …

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As research on the different cannabinoids and terpenes  – and other compounds produced by the cannabis plant – advances, more and more testimonies claim that the efficacy of these substances is beyond doubt. While further research is needed in both humans and animals,  cannabinoids like CBD are being increasingly used to treat diverse symptoms and pains in pets, since many users have realised the great benefits it can provide in some cases.

Cannabis can help our pets to have a healthier life

The endocannabinoid system of animals

Mammals, as our beloved dogs and cats, all have an endocannabinoid system composed of CB-1 and CB-2 receptors, which also produces endocannabinoids. When they detect the presence of other cannabinoids in the body, these receptors react in much the same way as they do in the case of humans, so it is believed that cannabinoids and terpenes could provide similar benefits in animals. While the CB-1 receptor is focused on the activity of the brain and central nervous system (CNS), the CB-2 receptor is mainly found in peripheral organs like the immune system. The most important here is that phytocannabinoids (cannabinoids produced by plants) activate these receptors, providing a number of beneficial effects.

However, and before starting any cannabis-based treatment, we must stress that psychoactive cannabinoids like THC or tetrahydrocannabinol have …

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Cannabis plants go through different stages of life before reaching harvest. These stages are: germination, pre-growth, growth and flowering. Depending on the phase of life, the care and feeding required can vary greatly, in this case we’re going to focus on the flowering period of cannabis and the changing nutritional demands upon our plants.

Phases of plant life

Pre-bloom phase of cannabis after the photoperiod change

At this point in their life cycle the plants are growing well, they’ve already occupied a little over half of the available space, and now is the moment to change the timer, so instead of using 18/6 we will switch to a 12/12 photoperiod and induce the plants to flower.

Depending on the type of plant and the genetics being cultivated, the time between changing the photoperiod to 12/12 displaying the first flowers can vary a great deal, and more if we are talking about differences between pure Indicas and Sativas.

Indica vs sativa

The stage between switching the photoperiod to 12/12 and seeing the first flowers appear is known as “the stretch“, as plants will tend to elongate and stretch in growth at this time. There’s a huge difference between the stretch of an indica plant and that of a sativa.

Indica plants stretch far less …

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Purple Caper Seeds: quality seeds of North American provenance

Purple Caper Seeds is a US seed bank specialising in regular seeds. Established in the state of California, where both medical and recreational cannabis have been legalised.

This seed bank has been cultivating and selecting quality genetics both indoors and outdoors for 25 years. They are known to have the best parental plants in the Bay Area and Central Valley, where many of the best seed banks in the State of California are located.

The very finest genetics have been collected and sourced over time from among the best clubs and growers in the area. These selected female strains have been crossed with the best males from their genetic library and the results have all been tested.

Any crosses which didn’t give the desired results were rejected, with only those examples that came up to the banks tough requirements in terms of yield, flavour, aroma and potency being selected. Only the best specimens are further worked to F4 generation to obtain highly stable regular seeds, always appreciated for indoor grows.

Outdoor selection of the best Purple Caper Seeds hybrids

Nowadays the bank boasts a wide variety of seeds with many different genetics, which can now be found at alchimiaweb.com. Let’s have a look at the newest, …

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What is the Emerald Triangle?

The Emerald Triangle refers to an area located on the northwest coast of the United States (northern California) and comprised of Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity counties. To be delve into the origins and traditions of cannabis cultivation in this region, we must go back to the 60s, during the Summer of Love in San Francisco. During the second half of the decade, and with the hippie counterculture as a backdrop, a good number of growers settled in this area in search of a place that would meet the ideal conditions for the outdoor cultivation of cannabis, namely isolation and a privileged climate. Since then, the Emerald Triangle has been one of the main sources of cannabis supplying California. As of 1996, and after the approval of California’s Proposition 215 for medical cannabis, the production in these three counties shot up due to the increase in demand, reaffirming the Emerald Triangle as one of the main producing areas of the country.

Map of California with the Emerald Triangle outlined in red

This region is often referred to as the Napa Valley (famous for its vineyards and the quality of its wine) or the Silicon Valley of cannabis given the large proportion of the population devoted directly or indirectly to the cultivation of this plant, …

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What are Solvent Extracts?

Whereas all solventless concentrates are extracted via mechanical means, be it agitation or heat and pressure, we can also make cannabis concentrates with a wide range of chemical and organic solvents, most commonly butane, propane, ethanol and CO2. This process works by dissolving the trichome heads in the liquid solvent which is separated from the plant material and purged (evaporated off) in a vacuum oven or dessicator and vacuum pump to ensure we are left with a pure resin extract with as little residual solvent as possible. Solvents are divided into two groups, polar and non-polar, with non-polar solvents like butane readily dissolving non-polar compounds from the plant, in this case the oils and lipids making up the trichome heads. Polar solvents like Ethanol however will extract both non-polar and polar compounds, meaning water-soluble compounds like chlorophyll are more likely be extracted alongside cannabinoids and terpenes. Many of the solvents used in extractions are highly flammable, meaning only the proper equipment should be used to extract and purge, and additionally a high level of safety and care must be taken to avoid accidents at all stages of the process.

BHO Textures: Shatter; Budder; Sugar Wax; Wax. (Photos: @sergiohuertasdemaria)

BHO (Butane Honey Oil)

Hugely popular across the cannabis world, and probably the …

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The story of this group of growers begins around 2003, when the world of medicinal cannabis in France was very small. At that time, deep within the cannabis culture underground, there were a few enlightened souls beginning to forge a therapeutic path in the French cannabis world. From among these few select characters swimming against the stream, the MaD Strains collective was formed, the Hip Hop Bee of cannabis!

Through passion and hard work MaD Strains (Medicinal And Delicate Strains) learnt and evolved in their growing, both outdoor and indoors, building a background knowledge that they never hesitated to share with the rest of the cannabis community.

In 2006, after 3 years of work and many internet contacts, they were invited to a French underground growers forum. There they made contact with the cognoscente of the underground cannabis world, presenting and sharing their first elite clone, obtained from an Exodus UK Cheese.

In that encounter a series of synergies between growers was generated that in 2007 led to a clone of Amnesia Core Cut arriving in their hands, and another of the Riri Cut of Sour Diesel, little could they imagine at that moment the repercussion that this clone would have in the future. From there, they learnt the importance of conserving and exchanging genetics.

After numerous …

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Every year in the weeks around Spannabis, the Catalonian city of Barcelona plays host to a multitude of events, competitions, workshops and seminars as the great and good of the global cannabis scene flock to the city to enjoy the company of like-minded folk from around the world. This year one of the biggest events of off-Spannabis was the Masters of Rosin competition organised by one of the top clubs in the city HQ Barcelona and hosted by solventless pioneer Nikka T of Colorado’s Essential Extracts.

Masters of Rosin 2018

First edition of Masters of Rosin Barcelona

This was a different proposition from the usual cannabis cups, for one thing it was the first ever Rosin-only competition, and for another thing it was judged exclusively by professionals from the cannabis sector, picked for their expertise in this relatively new solvent less extraction technique called rosin. In this first edition of the contest the judges panel was comprised of such big names as DNA Genetics, House of the Great Gardener, Frenchy Cannoli, Ripper Seeds, R Kiem Seeds, Dabinator, Sasquash, La Kalada, Yellow Brick Labs, and Nikka T himself, as well as one very fortunate member of the team here at Alchimia.

The trophies were miniature irons of gold, silver and bronze. (Photo: HQ

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