Hey everboddeh, the following was taken from 'Ask Ed' in the MJ growers handbook,
Dear Ed,
I recently harvested my small indoor crop. My problem is the dried buds will not stay lit, which makes it impossible to roll into joints because the pot crystalizes into this black substance.
I read in a previous column of yours, that this might be due to a lack of potassium. I've tried various drying methods and none have produced pot that will stay lit. These included microwaving, sun drying for 1 - 2 days, and slow drying hanging upside down.
If the problem does indicate a lack of K, how and when should the nutrient be added?
My second question is that I am stuck with a 1/2 lb. of good looking and smelling pot which won't burn. Is there any way I can fix these buds?
Useless Green, Tallahassee,FL
and Ed says;
The black substance is carbon (C), which is what is left once the other substances have boiled or evaporated or burned. C by itself does not burn with a high enough heat to keep the fire going.When combined with K there is a higher burn temperature and the burn stays lit.
When wood or charcoal is burned, the ash which remains is mostly potash, K-2-O. In order to get a satisfactory marijuana, the fertilizer regimine should be changed.The plants should be fed a fertilizer with a higher ratio of phosphorous (P) such a 4-3-5 during the first few weeks of growth.This will help the plants develop short, stocky stems rather than thinner, taller growth.
During the last three weeks of flowering the fertilzer ratio should be low in N, high in P, and medium in K-between 1-5-3 and 3-7-5, (This stands for the ratio of N-P-K, always in that order.) or thier multiples. This encourages flowering, and causes a nitrogen (N) deficiency. The plant transfers N from it's old growth, the shade leaves, to the new growth, flowers and the small leaves surrounding them. The shade leaves turn yellow and die as the N migrates to the new tissue.
Your non joint burning marijuana may be a blessing in disguise. Instead of smoking in a joint, use a small bowl water-pipe or use for cooking.
You will get a much cleaner smoke since you are not smoking paper. The C of your K deficient pot does not burn, and the smoke is filtered of water solubles through water. Why would anyone want all that C or it;s pyrolitic, carbon monoxide (CO), which is considered a poison and CO2 in his/her lungs? Another benefit is that a pipe is much more efficient way to get high than a joint. Much less material is wasted as sidestream smoke in an effient pipe.
That's Eds' take on the subject. Hope that helps.