SoilBible · Episodes · Ep 027

Ep 027: Hermaphrodite Bananas, Herms Found in Quadrant One

· Day 27 of flower and the guest host (filling in for Jeremy who returns tomorrow) takes viewers on a retail shop tour at BuildASoil before heading into the tent to reveal what they found after last week's worry about receding, colour-changing pistils. Both the Halitosis and Branson's Royal Revenge show hermaphrodite traits — male pollen sacs and bananas throwing in flower — blamed on chem-heritage genetics plus possible light disturbance from staff in and out of the facility. He walks through what to do about herms, progress of bud set in quadrants one through three, tomatoes and peppers in quadrant four, then answers FAQ questions on Thermx 70 yucca in living soil, no-till mycelial networks, Korean Natural Farming integration, and how to grow cannabis in small 3 to 5 gallon containers.

Topics

Retail shop tour with BuildASoil products and mushroom extracts · Two by two tent side-experiment with Unleaded Sour under Timber COBs · Hermaphrodite discovery in Halitosis and Branson's Royal Revenge · Male pollen sacs and banana identification on camera · Chem lineage as hermaphrodite stress indicator · Long Valley Royal Kush outdoor vs indoor behaviour · Top dress frequency by container size and flower time · Why 30 gallon containers beat 15 gallon for no-till · No-till philosophy and preserving mycorrhizal colonies · Korean Natural Farming integration with no-till · Growing cannabis in small 3 to 5 gallon containers · Thermx 70 yucca extract safety in living soil vs aquaponics · Day 27 flower plant progress and par reading plans · Defoliation catch-up note and par reading to come

Sections

0:00 — 1:00

Retail Shop Tour and Oil to the Soil

The guest host opens episode 22 with a walking tour of the BuildASoil retail shop on the way back to the tent, since viewers had been asking to see it. He shows clothing, 'Oil to the Soil' bottles, health products including wild-crafted African shea, fair-trade organic coffee from their buddy Ross Farms, and mushroom extracts including turkey tail. He pauses to demonstrate a bulging bottle of Oil to the Soil, releasing the pressure cap to show how gas buildup from live microbes is totally normal and expected once feedings warm up at home.

  1. 1. Pick up a bulging bottle of Oil to the Soil from the retail shelf
  2. 2. Point out the bulge and explain it is from microbial activity
  3. 3. Gently release cap pressure to demo the gas buildup
  4. 4. Explain that bottles puff up at home after a couple of feedings when warmer, and that this is totally normal and expected because the product is very active with microbes
1:00 — 2:00

Offices and Two by Two Tent Side Experiment

Host walks quietly past offices where staff book freight and logistics, and stops at a small two by two tent running two small Timber COBs over an Unleaded Sour plant Jeremy is experimenting with as a possible future long-series grow in a 2x2. Host then transitions to the main 10x10 tent announcing day 27 of flower and that this is his final episode filling in for Jeremy.

  1. 1. Stop past the offices area (host asks to keep quiet so staff can work)
  2. 2. Show a two by two tent with two small Timber COBs over an Unleaded Sour plant
  3. 3. Explain it is Jeremy's experimental side project and a possible future 2x2 long series
  4. 4. Transition into the main 10x10 tent at day 27 of flower
2:00 — 4:00

Quadrant One and the Herm Discovery

Last week's concern was that pistils were turning colour and receding. This week they found the culprits: hermaphrodite traits on both Halitosis and Branson's Royal Revenge — male pollen sacs and bananas forming in flower. Host shows a male pollen sac on camera and explains it will likely open in about a week and release viable pollen. He rules out the fan size, speed and distance as the cause and blames photoperiod disruption from staff coming and going, triggering the self-preservation reflex to reproduce.

  1. 1. Revisit last week's worry about pistils colouring up and receding early
  2. 2. Inspect quadrant one closely — find male pollen sacs and bananas on Halitosis and Branson's Royal Revenge
  3. 3. Show a single round male pollen sac on camera and note it will likely open and release viable pollen in the next week
  4. 4. Rule out fan-caused stress given current fan size, speed and distance from the plants
  5. 5. Attribute the cause to photoperiod disruption from people coming in early and staying late in the facility
  6. 6. Explain that plants under photoperiod stress self-preserve by throwing male parts to make seed
4:00 — 6:00

Genetics, Chem Lineage and Long Valley Royal Kush

Host explains that both affected genetics carry Chem in the cross and that Chem D is notorious for throwing bananas late indoors — it is accepted as part of the lineage. Branson's Royal Revenge contains Long Valley Royal Kush, which does best outside but needs supplemental light or later planting because it tries to flip in early June and then rerevert. He has herm'd Branson's indoors from clone with light leaks but grew it clean outdoors from seed last year. He argues plants are simply more resilient and easier to grow outdoors.

  1. 1. Note that a few seeds here and there never killed anybody — pollinated material can be washed and turned into oil
  2. 2. Identify Chem in both Halitosis and Branson's Royal Revenge as a known hermaphrodite-prone line
  3. 3. Explain Long Valley Royal Kush outdoor timing — too early (end of May, first week of June) triggers flower then revegetation
  4. 4. Recommend supplemental light or later plant-out to keep Long Valley Royal Kush in veg outdoors
  5. 5. Note Long Valley Royal Kush finishes very fast — end of September or even middle of September outdoors
  6. 6. Share personal history: Branson's herm'd indoors from clone with light leaks, zero herms outdoors from seed
6:00 — 7:00

Quadrant Progress and Defoliation Note

The Halitosis in quadrant one is picking up real frost and bud is filling in behind the previously lonely pistils — he estimates these go 70 to 75 days total. Quadrant two plants are about 5'8" tall (roughly matching his own height) and pretty much done stretching, getting close to the light, so a par reading is coming when Jeremy returns tomorrow. He notes defoliation has happened a touch but not as aggressively as he would like.

  1. 1. Walk quadrant one and note increased resin and bud size behind the hairs
  2. 2. Estimate Halitosis flower time at 70 to 75 days based on current progress at day 27
  3. 3. Move to quadrant two and confirm plants at approximately 5'8" matching host's own height
  4. 4. Flag that plants are getting close to the light and a par reading is due when Jeremy returns tomorrow
  5. 5. Note defoliation has occurred but not enough — more needed
7:00 — 9:00

Branson's Colour, Top Dress Schedule and Container Size

Moving to quadrant three, the Branson's Royal Revenge is already dense with purple starting at the calyx tips, suggesting a purple finish. Host walks through top dress frequency: a 10 gallon gets top dressed more often (week one of flower, week four, and possibly week six or seven), whereas a 30 gallon typically only needs two top dresses — end of veg into flip and week four of flower. He shares his strong preference for 30 gallon over the 15 gallon he used to run and calls the upgrade transformative for growth, health and labour.

  1. 1. Inspect Branson's Royal Revenge in quadrant three — note density and early purple on calyx tips
  2. 2. Predict purple-finished flower and purple-tinged leaves
  3. 3. Confirm last top dress was fresh over feeder-root zone (don't dig it up to check)
  4. 4. Set top dress rule for 10 gallon pots: week 1 flower, week 4 flower, and potentially week 6 or 7
  5. 5. Extend to GMO-class 85-day cultivars: ensure at least three top dresses
  6. 6. For 58 to 60 day Branson's: two top dresses is enough
  7. 7. Set top dress rule for 30 gallon pots: once at end of veg into flip, once around week 4 of flower
  8. 8. Recommend upgrading from 15 gallon to 30 gallon — expect dramatically faster veg and better plant health
  9. 9. Confirm this fresh top dress is likely the last the quadrant will receive this cycle
  10. 10. Keep supplements like Organics Alive or Build A Bloom as backup around day 45 if needed
9:00 — 10:00

Quadrant Four Vegetables and No-Till Replant Rules

Quadrant four peppers and tomatoes are still healthy with tomatoes increasing in size but host suspects bigger containers would push them further. He checks the section topped and dropped about eight days ago — mostly lettuce biomass — and says it can be planted into today without heating up because the residue is minimal. He reiterates the core no-till rules: don't dump and remix, keep top-dressing, disturb as little soil as possible, and add mulch like straw or clover to keep the bed covered.

  1. 1. Check peppers — still doing well and filling out on the tops
  2. 2. Check tomatoes — still healthy, still gaining size, but limited by container volume
  3. 3. Inspect the section topped-and-dropped 8 days ago — mostly lettuce
  4. 4. Confirm it is safe to replant today because the biomass is too small to heat up
  5. 5. Recommend covering with straw or a clover cover crop to keep the soil covered
  6. 6. State the no-till principle: never dump and remix, always top dress
  7. 7. When replanting, dig back only as much as needed in the centre to set the new plant
  8. 8. Preserve existing mycorrhizal, bacterial and fungal colonies by minimising disturbance
  9. 9. Defer final plant choice for the replant to Jeremy tomorrow
11:00 — 11:30

FAQ: Thermx 70 Yucca Extract in Living Soil

Reader Jason asks whether Thermx 70 yucca extract can be used in living soil after worms have been added. Host gives an unqualified yes — the only caution with yucca extract is in aquaponics, where it can negatively affect fish.

  1. 1. Question from Jason: can Thermx 70 yucca extract be used in living soil after adding worms?
  2. 2. Answer: yes, absolutely
  3. 3. Caveat: only avoid yucca extract if running an aquaponics system because it can negatively affect fish
11:30 — 12:00

FAQ: Mycelial Networks in No-Till Soil

Reader Moocow asks if it's worth getting a mycelial network running in no-till soil. Host says yes — that is the whole point of no-till. By staying in the same container and the same soil, mycorrhizal fungi, other fungal colonies and bacteria become established over time. Disrupting the soil wrecks those colonies. He names Kashi, mycorrhizal inoculants, Rootwise, Bokashi, good compost and worm castings as the key biologically active inputs to feed that fungal and bacterial life.

  1. 1. Question from Moocow: worth trying to get a mycelial network in no-till soil?
  2. 2. Answer: yes, absolutely — that is the point of no-till
  3. 3. Explain mechanism: staying in the same container and soil allows mycorrhizal fungi, fungal colonies and bacteria to establish
  4. 4. Warning: disrupting soil destroys those microbial colonies — preserve them
  5. 5. Recommend biologically active inputs: Kashi, mycorrhizal inoculation products like Rootwise, Bokashi, good compost, worm castings
12:00 — 12:30

FAQ: Korean Natural Farming Integration

Mr Maximus asks whether Korean Natural Farming inputs (KNF teas, kashi blend, crap blend, compost) can be incorporated into the no-till system. Host says yes — KNF techniques are fully compatible. He notes KNF traditionally uses brown sugar to create osmotic pressure that pulls out nutrients; BuildASoil does a similar fermentation with insect frass and alfalfa but substitutes molasses and lactic acid bacteria. A slightly different fermentation but very similar, and everything can coexist.

  1. 1. Question from Mr Maximus: can Korean Natural Farming (KNF) inputs and teas be used with no-till?
  2. 2. Answer: yes, absolutely — KNF practices integrate with no-till
  3. 3. Explain KNF traditional method: brown sugar for osmotic pressure to pull out nutrients
  4. 4. Compare to BuildASoil's insect-frass and alfalfa fermentation using molasses and lactic acid bacteria instead of brown sugar
  5. 5. Confirm the two approaches are similar but slightly different fermentations
  6. 6. Encourage incorporating KNF practices alongside all other no-till inputs
12:30 — 14:30

FAQ: Growing in Small 3 to 5 Gallon Containers

Reader Brett asks how to grow in small containers. Host explains the limiting factor is container volume — microbial functions have to keep up with a fast-growing plant like cannabis, which is tough in a 3 or 5 gallon. Key advice: flower small, know your genetics, don't try to grow a half-pound plant in a 5 gallon. In a 5 gallon you will need supplements like Blue Gold or Organics Alive — water-only no-till is impossible that small. A 30 gallon container holds enough reserves for soil functions to keep up with vegetative growth, yields bigger, gets better over time, and allows true water-only no-till.

  1. 1. Question from Brett: how to grow in small 3 to 5 gallon containers
  2. 2. Acknowledge this is challenging with organics because container size is the limiting factor
  3. 3. Explain: microbes and soil functions must keep up with fast cannabis growth — hard in small pots
  4. 4. Rule: flower when the plants are small
  5. 5. Rule: match genetics to the container — don't try to grow a half-pound plant in a 5 gallon
  6. 6. Accept that in 5 gallon you must supplement with something like Blue Gold or Organics Alive
  7. 7. State that water-only no-till is not achievable in small containers
  8. 8. Compare with 30 gallon: holds enough reserves for microbial activity to keep up, enables water-only no-till
  9. 9. Expected outcome of 5 to 30 gallon upgrade: much larger yields, much faster growth, especially in veg
  10. 10. Note roots in a large container drive a plant to get taller and fuller, whereas a 5 gallon caps plant size
  11. 11. Choose container size based on yield goal, space size, and number of varieties
14:30 — 15:26

Sign-Off

Host thanks Jeremy for the opportunity to guest-host for the last few weeks, thanks viewers for positive comments and questions, and reminds everyone to like, subscribe, and comment. Jeremy will be back tomorrow.

  1. 1. Thank Jeremy for the hosting opportunity
  2. 2. Thank viewers for questions, comments and Instagram follows
  3. 3. Announce Jeremy returning tomorrow
  4. 4. Ask viewers to like, subscribe and comment

Notable quotes

"see how bulge this bottle is that's because of how active this stuff is"

Demonstrating an Oil to the Soil bottle bulging from microbial gas in the retail shop

"we found either male sacs or bananas basically"

The big reveal — both Halitosis and Branson's Royal Revenge are showing herm traits at day 27

"in nature when something's wrong the first reaction is reproduce"

Explaining why a stressed photoperiod plant self-preserves by throwing male parts

"a couple seeds here and there never killed anybody"

Reassuring viewers that a partially pollinated grow is not a disaster

"chem d is notorious if you throw it inside it's gonna throw bananas uh late"

Naming Chem D as an accepted herm-prone indoor lineage

"plants are a little bit more resilient outside in my opinion a little bit easier to grow outside than they are inside"

Philosophical aside after covering his Branson's light-leak herm story

"when you transition from a 15 to a 30 you will not look back"

Strongly recommending the 30 gallon container upgrade for no-till growers

"that's basically no-till and we're going to just keep going back and back and back into this container"

Summarising the no-till philosophy while looking at quadrant four

Glossary terms from this episode

Alfalfa ferment · Banana (nanner) · Calyx · Chem D lineage · COB (Chip on Board) light · Container size limiting factor · defoliation · feeder roots · Hermaphrodite traits · Insect frass ferment · kashi / bokashi · Korean Natural Farming (KNF) · Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) · Light leak · Male pollen sac · Mycelial network · Mycorrhizal colonies · Mycorrhizal inoculation · No-till · Oil to the Soil · Osmotic pressure (KNF) · Par reading · Photoperiod disruption · Photoperiod plant · Quadrant · Reveg · stretch · Top and drop · Top dress · Water-only no-till

Products mentioned

PAR meter · 10-gallon container · BuildABloom · 30 gallon container · Straw mulch · Worm castings · molasses · 3 gallon container · Insect frass · Organics Alive · 15 gallon container · 5 gallon container · BuildASoil clothing merch · Oil to the Soil · Wild-crafted African shea · Fair trade organic coffee · Turkey tail mushroom extract · 2x2 grow tent · Small COB LED · Thermx 70 yucca extract