Big Berry Bliss Feminized is an indica-dominant hybrid bred from a cross of Gelato 41 and Cherry Pie in cooperation with the fantastic team at Serge Cannabis. We recently did a test grow of this strain and loved its high potency and ease of growth. While it got a bit tall for an indica, the space was used to grow the massive buds the strain is named for.
Flowering stage: 63 days
Total time, seed to harvest: 84 days
Final height: 103 cm
Final yield: 99 grams
THC content: 23.4%
To grow this plant, we kept it in a room with a regulated temperature of 23°C during the day and 21°C at night with a relative humidity of 65% during vegetation. We grow all of our plants in a BAC Lava Mix under a Phillips 1000W Green Power HPS light hung 3 metres above the floor.
Germination & seedling
To germinate our Big Berry Bliss Feminized seeds, we opted for the paper towel method, a reliable favourite among seasoned growers. To do this, all we did was sandwich the seed between two slightly damp paper towels on a plate and loosely cover the setup with plastic. This was all then positioned under a Phillips 600 W HPS bulb to give the seeds the best conditions.
After about a day, the first signs of life appeared as the seed cracked open, revealing the taproot. This marked the perfect time to plant our seed in its first home; a Rockwool cube. We dug a small hole, placed the taproot pointing downwards, and buried it 0.5 cm below the surface. The pot was then placed under the 600 W light, and a light layer of soil was gently added to cover the seed.
After a day or so, the first growth appeared and over the first week, our plant grew to a height of 8 cm. During the first three days, we avoided watering it so as not to drown the delicate seedling, but by the third day, it was time. For this first watering, we used only 100 ml of water with a pH of 6.0, an EC of 0.8, and no added nutrients.
Vegetation
Over the second week, our Big Berry Bliss Feminized plant more than doubled in size to 19 cm and sprouted its first true leaves. To keep up with this growth, we moved her to her new home; an 8-litre pot under our Philips 1000 W Green Power HPS lamp. This was hung 3 metres above the ground to provide an intense and even light without burning the plant.
During this week, we also started feeding our new friend. We increased the volume of water to 200 ml, upped the EC to 1.4, and added a small amount of Bio Grow liquid nutrient.
As we entered the vegetation phase, the plant was largely doing well with only one small hiccup. If you look here, you’ll see that the stem isn’t fully stiff and looks like it’s almost folded underneath itself. This can happen if a seed isn’t planted deep enough or if the soil it’s planted in is a bit too dense or compacted.
In this situation, the taproot isn’t able to push down as much as it should and, instead, pushes the plant upwards, out of the soil. This is easy enough to correct if you catch it early. All we needed were a few gardening dowels and we were good to go.
In the third week, the plant kept growing nicely and developed some robust lateral growth and reached a new height of 29 cm. At this stage, the vegetation was a deep and healthy green and the branches and main stalk were continuing to thicken. At this stage, we upped the water to 400 ml and increased the amount of nutrients.
Lastly, before entering flowering, we hung satchels of Neoseiulus californicus and Amblyseius swirskii from the plant’s lowest branches. These predatory critters feed on pests like spider mites and thrips that can wreck a crop. These little fellas don’t damage the plant in any way and we replace these satchels every four weeks to keep the plant stocked up.
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Flowering
Coming into the fourth week, our Big Berry Bliss Feminized plant had grown to a new height of 37 cm and it was time to switch to flowering. At this stage, we switched the lights to a 12/12 schedule, lowered the humidity to 60%, and adjusted our watering. We increased the volume to 800 ml a day, raised the EC to 1.7, and switched to Bio Flower liquid nutrients.
The fifth week saw an explosion of growth as the plant shot up to 49 cm and continued developing some serious vegetation. These first few weeks of flowering are when the plant sees its most intense growth so this was a good sign that things were going well. This week we upped the water to 1000 ml per feeding and further increased the EC to 1.8.
The next several weeks saw rapid growth and by the sixth week, our girlie had climbed to 64 cm and we again increased the volume of water to 1500 ml. The plant was starting to take on its final form with an ever-growing main stem and reduced growth among the lateral branches. We also replaced the satchels of predators to keep a fresh supply.
The seventh week is when things really started to take off. The first signs of flowering were appearing all over the plant as clumps of white pistils. These new buds were still quite small but were developing nicely every day.
As a note, you can see just how much taller the main stalk of this plant has grown above the lateral branches. At this stage, the plant was 76 cm tall with the main cola developing a good 20 cm above the rest of the branches. This is a holdover from the strain’s sativa genetics and can make creating an even canopy a bit trickier. Luckily, these plants respond very well to a range of LST and HST techniques such as topping or scrogging.
The eighth week saw further vertical growth with our lady reaching 85 cm tall and continuing to blossom from head to toe. The lateral branches had grown a bit taller and the buds were developing nicely all across the plant.
The ninth week was the last week of major growth with the plant now standing 98 cm tall. All over the place, the buds were thickening up and were just starting to give off a faint floral scent. At this point, the main cola was developing nicely and the entire plant was covered in buds and trichomes. Some lateral branches were struggling to support the weight of their ever-growing buds.
In the tenth week, our plant reached her final height of 103 cm and was now giving off a more distinct aroma. At this stage, we began seeing the first orange pistils and there was nothing left to do but wait patiently while the flowers finished developing.
The eleventh week saw no more vertical growth but did see the flowers growing significantly larger and denser every day. The buds were increasingly covered in orange pistils and many lateral branches were no longer able to fully support their buds. Ideally, these would all be supported with wooden dowels.
The twelfth week was the end of our Big Berry Bliss journey. With the cola fully developed and the buds covered in orange hairs, there was nothing left to do but harvest.
Harvest
To kick off the harvest, the plant was first cut down at the base and hung upside-down in a climate-controlled environment for the next several weeks. Keeping a steady temperature of 15.5°C and a relative humidity level of 60%, we aimed to minimise the risk of mould or disease during the drying process.
After the smaller branches became brittle enough to snap, the buds were trimmed and transferred into glass jars for curing. Initially, these jars remained unsealed for 24 hours to allow for the evaporation of most of the remaining moisture. Afterwards, the jars were sealed, and “burped” multiple times daily for the first two weeks. During the final four weeks, burping occurred once daily until the buds reached the desired consistency.
Once this was done, we managed to harvest a total of 99 grams of dry flower with an impressive THC content of 23.4%.
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Terpene profile
Big Berry Bliss Feminized doesn’t lean too heavily towards either energising or sedating, but it definitely packs a punch. The effects hit quickly, starting with a cerebral high that clears the mind and allows for deep focus on tasks. As time goes on, this euphoria slowly gives way to a soothing wave of relaxation.
When we cracked open our jar of Big Berry Bliss Feminized, we were immediately hit with its potent and distinctive aroma; a strong floral scent with hints of fuel, followed by the sweet fragrance of cherries inherited from its Cherry Pie lineage and creamy undertones from Gelato 41 with a subtle hint of sandalwood underneath it all.
As far as taste goes, this strain is a real treat. While there’s an unmistakable hint of fuel in there, it doesn’t overpower the rich flavour of freshly picked cherries. The blend of Cherry Pie and Gelato 41 creates a delightful combination of creamy and pastry-like flavours that’s sure to remind you of dessert with each puff.
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The outcome
Big Berry Bliss Feminized might take a little longer than some other strains, but the results are more than worth the wait. This tasty and potent strain is a great choice for anyone with a little more time to commit; particularly if you’re looking for a good choice for scrogging or mainlining.
- Disclaimer:Laws and regulations regarding cannabis cultivation differ from country to country. Sensi Seeds therefore strongly advises you to check your local laws and regulations. Do not act in conflict with the law.
