finally got to try all four strains and have made a decision on what to keep and it's not what i expected(?)
nl5 skunk and critical skunk are pictured here after just bagging at about 70-72% rh when sealed which took about three weeks in the fridge. they were the most resistant to stress and the fastest growing/producing
master kush skunk and ortega were two weeks behind i think due to recovering and not their usual ripening time so i just am starting to try them even though over a week left in drying
i have to keep the only plant that lets me down easy and that is master kush skunk. all the others the high doesn't shut off and i feel still 'baked' hours later. considering i don't have a strong constitution for too much weed or even alcohol i would imagine to some people they are ideal
nl5 - sweet sugar cream smell, kind of like m39 we used to get in canada. deep tissue relaxant and a potent and warm indica high with no racing. alas hours later my head hurts. smells of skunk in veg but not much smell when dried, maybe skunky from afar will have to check
critical skunk - literally the thin leaved plant of the garden with spindly branches and heavy buds toppling the whole plant. only plant with really sugary leaves. barely any smell except for a faint cat pee smell in veg sometimes. when dry the initial peach/stonefruit smell has faded and now very little smell
high is warm with no ceiling, chest zooming, unnerving, fun and tapers off into a nice warm glow. really nice potent medicine. alas, it lingers a bit too heavy and with a bit of dry mouth
ortega - nicer buds than nl5 and possibly nicer flavour although slower growth. similar indica body high but a raciness deep down. mellower in the come down than the first two, so might consider keeping this one with the master kush maybe
master kush - maybe not my favourite high of the group, as i really like the critical high and the complementary nl5 high. it's kind of a grittier indica high, although not too heavy but also not racy. still a good high though for sure, and most importantly after the come down it has resolved mostly
this plant has the most smells out of the group and it is keeping it's flavour in the dry which is almost like grape. the resin glands were also different than the rest, with different types some gnarled some embedded etc and a dark blueish hue under loupe. also had a leafy branch = cola growth pattern
it also freaked out the most both in reaction to the low rh bright flower light a few months ago and also when i overwatered the mother plants it decided to start semi-flowering(ortega kind of did too)
ideally i would keep critical for the sativa like warm and creative high, and the nl5 which is a smooth and full body indica high, but master kush skunk is the only one that wears off with no heavy lingering effects, and luckily has what looks to be the best flavour of the group
nl5 skunk (left) and critical skunk @ 3 weeks fridge dry
. Good to know it works well at preserving terpenes as I do not have a climate controlled environment to dry in . I can't imagine how awesome the smoke will be when dried this way. My temps are low to mid eighties on an average day and hitting 90 on the scorchers with 60% humidity 