Dear Sonia,

I am currently growing just a few plants - would love to be in a position where I had the room for more; but you know how it is! I would like to know of a really good feed for my plants – as I keep getting told so many differing things. You can get something for the flowers, something for increased vegetative growth so on and so forth. I’m hardly green-fingered and find all the info hard to take in – do you know of a singular feed that fits all so to speak?
Thanks Sonia.

Hi Sal,

A one-size fits all eh?! Well sadly, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a singular feed on the market, designed to work on its own. However, there are a number of general fertilisers and feeds that can be applied as and when required. But the plants very characteristics determine this phenomena - you could almost section the plant off in three if you like - with vegetation, bud/flower, and root system - each of which requires different treatment. I know of people who just feed their plants with tomato feed, others with nettles steeped in buckets of water for several weeks and of course – those who swear blind that the feed they purchased from their local hydro store is just the ticket and they’d use nothing but.
Growing your own is often about trial and error. When you do find something that you are happy with – stick with it, as so often the case. Don’t be fooled into thinking the grass is greener on the other side.
Get surfing and join a discussion forum – whereby you can share a load of information with other fellow growers. Check out UK420.com - there’s sure to be a thread you can follow! Now go and see what you can learn!
Yours,
Sonia of The Big Bud Sisterhood

Dear Sonia,
Could you tell me a little about the Ein Gedi System and how it differs from regular
grow units? I am relatively new to indoor growing and really need an idea as to where I might start. Thanks Sonia, for any light that you may help shed on the subject!
Pip T., Halesowen.

Hi Pip,
and many thanks for your letter! Welcome to the ‘minefield’ of indoor growing kits! The Ein Gedi System, in brief, was first developed in Israel and is comprised of fully enclosed rectangular chambers. Inside each, nutrient solution is circulated 1-6 inches below evenly-spaced mesh baskets that contain the plants. The air gap between the baskets and the solution, is misted by sprayers. Roots growing into the mist zone are subjected to intense oxygenation, resulting in vigorous growth. Once the roots grow through the mist zone, they are greeted by a circulating bath of oxygenated nutrient solution that eliminates the problem of stagnation; a problem commonly associated with an NFT system. Ein Gedi provides a quick and efficient method for developing seedlings and cuttings into large healthy plants. Personally Pip, you may well want to invest in a few books about hydroponics - Knowledge is Power Pip!
Sonia.The kinky Weed Vixen

Dear Mistress Skunk,
Do you think there'll ever be a time when we're not victimised for enjoying our beloved weed? It really makes me mad, living in a large city, how drunk and violent w**kers are free to roam the streets. My friend's father has court in January because he's been using cannabis
to relieve the pains he has because of severe arthritis. He cannot walk far by himself (a couple of metres) and spends most of his day sitting in pain. Why is the system so unfair? Sorry Sonia, I just needed to rant.
Yours faithfully,
George R.

Hi George,
and I'm sorry to hear about your friend’s poor father, who obviously benefits from the pain relieving qualities of the cannabis sativa plant! True too, do we live in a perversely tolerant society of alcohol related illnesses and crime brought about by the growing
numbers of folk who, after consuming large amounts of 'dutch courage', feel a certain immortality within themselves; carrying out mindless activities often leading to violence and depraved behaviour. Never have I come across an individual 'high' on THC capable of causing harm to others or even themselves. You have every reason to vent your frustrations - we do, sadly live in a rather mad world! The only advice I can give you, with regards to your friend’s father, is to hang on in there with him. Enquire about the revered Tony's Holistic Centre if you get the chance, and the many web-sites dedicated to people like yourself and your friend’s father, who offer good advice as to how the plant can help him. He may even get advice about obtaining the drug on medical grounds... it's worth a shot! Good luck, and I hope that all goes well for you both!
Sonia Skunk.

G'day Sonia!
Havin' a problem with my plants. They're spreading way, way out of control. Got 4 plants and I've tried trimming to stop width & height getting too much for the space they're in. There's quite a lot of bud, but I seem to be chopping leaves all the time! There is no stopping this lady! I'm a couple of weeks from harvest now. Does this usually happen with White Widow? I haven't grown it before. Anything I can do differently next time? Thank you for your time Sonia,
D. from Chester.
Hi 'D' from Chester,

Well, well, I must admit there aren't many of you out there complaining about the size of your Ladies. If you are concerned about extraneous growth, then you should trim back leaf growth a bit earlier to allow the buds to take up the light energy rather than the leaves. After all, it's the buds you want, not a shit load of leaves.
S.S.

Dear Sonia,
I've been a great fan of yours for at least the last 15 issues, and have learned a lot from you. I was speaking to one of the guys at Weed World, at the Wembley show two years ago, and he told me you were very fond of spending your free time bird-watching and taking pictures of them in particular. I hope it’s true, as I’ve just started photographing birds and have got some great pictures of some in the garden. Sometimes I use bait to attract them to the garden. Tits like coconuts, but Sparrows and Finches seem to prefer pecking at my bag of nuts. I’ve got a great picture of some finches. Have you got any pictures? I’d love to do a swap. I’m very proud of my 8 finches. Do you have a picture of a Chuff you could send me?
Thanks. Mr C Eastwood (Dorset UK)

Dear Mr Eastwood
I bet you are proud of your 8 inches. Oh sorry, did you say Finches?! Hey, so you’re a bird watcher eh? Get kicks out of the RSPB web-site do we? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink! Listen, you get out there and enjoy your birds and I'll see about swapping a couple of birdie photos with you! Not many people have seen my Chuff pictures, and it'd take more than 8 Finches to be a fair swap...
Sonia Skunk.