In this report, we’ll detail our experience with Cherry Bacio Feminized; a 55% indica developed in collaboration with Sherbinskis. This cross between Sweet Cherry Kush and Gelato #41 impressed us with its high potency and incredible purple hues. The moderately-sized plant had a decent yield, and the quality is undeniably top-shelf.
Total growing time: 95 days
Flowering time: 65 days
Final height: 93 cm
Final yield: 106 grams
THC content: 24.63%
To give our plant the best possible conditions to thrive, we grew it under a 1000 W Phillips GreenPower HPS lamp on an 18/6 schedule. The plant itself was grown in a 12-litre plastic pot filled with BAC Lava Mix and topped with a layer of small Rockwool cubes. Throughout the grow, we kept the space at 23°C during daylight hours with the temperature dipping to 21°C at night. To start, we kept the room at a relative humidity of 65% which would be gradually reduced as the plant continued to grow.
Germination & seedling
To set our Cherry Bacio plant off on its journey, we first needed to germinate the seeds. As always, we used the industry-standard paper towel method as it’s the fastest and most reliable method out there. We started by placing a few folded and dampened paper towels onto a plate and setting our seed in the centre. Next, we covered it with another damp paper towel and put it all into an open plastic bag.
After a little more than a day, we noticed that the seed had cracked open to reveal a thin white taproot. We placed the seed into a pre-soaked Rockwool cube with the taproot pointing down and set it under a 600 W LED lamp. Giving a plant too much light, heat, or water at this delicate stage can prevent it from taking root, so it’s best to just leave it for a few days.
After three days, we gave our seedling its first watering with 100 ml of plain pH-balanced water (pH 6.2; EC 0.8) mixed with a small dose of rooting hormone. After the first week, our seedling was standing 6 cm tall with multiple sets of leaves. The roots were growing out of the bottom of the Rockwool cube and we planted it into the 12-litre pot. By now, we were feeding it 100 ml of water (pH 6.0: EC 1.4) per day mixed with Bio Grow liquid nutrients.
Vegetation
In week two, our plant more than doubled in height to 14 cm and sprouted a few new sets of leaves. Internodal spacing was tight and the leaves were a healthy shade of green. Anticipating substantial growth ahead, we doubled the daily feedings to 200 ml of water.
Week three was another week of rapid growth with our plant reaching 22 cm tall. Multiple new sets of large broad leaves grew in and the internodal spacing was slowly expanding. Overall, the plant was lush and healthy and it was time to begin flowering next week. To help our plant get all it needs, we again doubled daily feedings to 400 ml of water.
Before switching to flowering, there was one last thing to do. We hung small satchels of Neoseiulus californicus and Amblyseius swirskii among the plant’s lower branches. These small white pouches each contain hundreds of tiny symbiotic creatures that don’t harm cannabis plants at all. Instead, they prey on devastating pests like spider mites and thrips which can easily kill off entire harvests if left unchecked. We replace these every four weeks to keep a fresh supply.
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Flowering
At the start of week four, we switched our plant over to flowering. This is easy enough and we simply flipped our light to a 12/12 schedule, lowered the humidity to 60%, and began daily feedings with 800 ml of water (pH 6.0; EC 1.8) mixed with bio Grow liquid nutrients. By the end of the week, our plant had grown to 30 cm and was covered in dense vegetation.
Week five saw our plant’s first major growth spurt as it shot up 20 cm to a new height of 50 cm. Internodal spacing was still relatively tight but was slowly stretching out and the entire plant seemed to be expanding in all directions. Expecting the first signs of flowering any time now, we upped the water to 1000 ml per day.
Week six gave our plant its single largest bout of vertical growth as it grew 25 cm to reach 75 cm tall. This was largely seen in the expanding internodal spacing which was still on the shorter side. While the structure of the plant was a tangle of branches, the unbelievably long stems on the fan leaves kept it from getting too overcrowded; for now. The main stem and lower branches were forming a nice canopy and we were seeing the first signs of flowers with white pistils growing at most flowering sites.
In week seven, our plant began to slow down its vertical growth as it shifted its energy to flower production. By the end of the week, it was standing at 85 cm and was covered in small clusters of white hairs at the tops and inner nodes of every branch. By now, we were feeding with 1500 ml of water each day and that wouldn’t change for the rest of the grow.
Week eight saw our plant continue to slow down as it grew to 89 cm. The main cola was now standing distinctly above the rest of the canopy, but not by much. The lateral branches were spreading out immensely and were slowly being pulled down by the ever-growing buds. Flower production was coming along nicely and there was little left to do but wait for nature to run its course.
Over weeks nine and ten, our plant grew to 92 cm and continued to develop large, dense buds. Aside from the main cola, most of the flowers were on the smaller side but they were incredibly dense and sticky with resin. We were seeing the first pistils turn orange and harvest was just a few short weeks away.
In week eleven, our plant reached its maximum height of 93 cm. The flowers were still growing larger almost every day and the pistils were still slowly turning orange. By now, the smell coming off of our plant was incredibly powerful and could be noticed from a fair distance.
Over weeks twelve and thirteen, our plant transformed taking on a stunning purple hue from top to bottom. Nearly every leaf and flower shifted colour over just a few short days and the results are absolutely stunning. By the end of the week, nearly all of the pistils had turned orange and it was nearly time to harvest.
In week fourteen, we harvest our Cherry Bacio Feminized plant.
Harvest
Once it was time to harvest our Cherry Bacio Feminized cannabis plant, we started by simply cutting the plant down at its base and removing all of the fan leaves. Next, we left the plant to hang upside-down in a climate-controlled room with a stable temperature of 15.5°C and a relative humidity of 50%. The plant was left here until the smaller branches were dry enough to snap when bent; this part usually lasts 10-20 days.
After letting the plant dry for a couple of weeks, it was time to trim up the buds. This plant was covered in a large number of somewhat small—though incredibly dense—buds which were considerably leafy. Trimming this monster was a time-consuming chore but it was already apparent how potent they would be. Once trimmed, the buds were placed into glass jars for curing.
These jars were initially left open for the first day to let much of the residual moisture out before being sealed and stored somewhere cool and dark. Multiple times a day, the jars were “burped” for one hour at a time to allow any more moisture to escape. Over the next several weeks, the frequency of burps was reduced to only once per day until the buds were ready for consumption. This entire process of curing takes anywhere from 4-6 weeks on average.
Once we were done, we harvested a total of 106 grams with a jaw-dropping potency of 24.63%.
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Terpene profile
As our plant reached maturity, the aroma emanating from our grow room could only be described as “potent” with a strong floral scent and hints of cherry. If you’re a grower who values discretion, you’ll want to take considerable steps to cover this strain’s powerful odour. Once cured, the cherry notes take over and are joined by more subtle sandalwood and vanilla with traces of pungent diesel underneath it all. These same notes are all present in the taste as well.
As a 55% indica hybrid, Chery Bacio Feminized provides an incredibly well-balanced high. An immediate cerebral euphoria will kickstart your creativity and just might reduce you to a pile of laughter. However, this will gradually give way to a powerful sedative couch-lock that is sure to keep you rooted to the comfiest chair you can find. Overall, an ideal strain for gradually unwinding at the end of the day.
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The outcome
In the end, we were thoroughly pleased with our Cherry Bacio Feminized cannabis plant. While the overall yield was on the smaller side, the plant itself was a breeze to grow and the resulting buds are some of the most potent we’ve seen in a while. Even though this strain stays on the shorter end, its massive lateral branches could prevent challenges for some indoor growers. Oh, and we can’t ignore that gorgeous purple.
- 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.
