Sticky Orange XXL Automatic Grow Report

Total growing time: 94 days

Flowering time: 73 days

Final height: 93 cm

Final yield: 158 grams

THC content: 20.3%

Like always, we grew our Sticky Orange XXL Automatic cannabis plant under a 1000 W Phillips GreenPower HPS in an 8-litre plastic pot filled with BAC Lava mix. During the 18 hours of light, we maintained a constant temperature of 23°C and let it drop down to 21°C during the six-hour night. To start off, our grow space was kept at 65% humidity during vegetation, but this would be gradually lowered to 55% during flowering.

Germination & seedling

Before our plant could do anything, we first had to germinate it. Luckily, germinating cannabis seeds is just about the easiest thing you can do; all you need are some paper towels, a plate, and a plastic bag. We simply folded up a few paper towels and placed them onto our plate. Next, we added several millilitres of water so that the paper towels were damp but not soaked and sprinkled our seeds on top, leaving a few centimetres between them. Lastly, we put another damp paper towel on top and set the whole thing inside a slightly open plastic bag.

After a little more than a day, our seed had cracked open to reveal the taproot. This was then placed into a Rockwool cube (taproot pointing down) and left to sprout under a 600W LED lamp. At this early stage, seedlings are incredibly delicate and too much light, heat, or water can prevent them from sprouting properly.

After three days, we gave our plant its first watering with 100 ml of pH-balanced water (pH 6.2; EC 0.8) mixed with a small dose of rooting hormone. By the end of week one, our plant was standing 8 cm tall with healthy cotyledons and some pre-leaves and it was time to move it to our 8-litre pot. At this point, we began daily waterings with 100 ml of water (pH 6.0; EC 1.4) mixed with Bio Grow liquid nutrients.

Vegetation

In week two, our plant doubled in height to 15 cm and sprouted its first true leaves with a second set on the way. These three-pointed leaves were a healthy shade of green and the stem was standing firm. Expecting a week of rapid growth ahead, we began feeding with 200 ml of water per day.

Week three saw our plant again double in size to reach 30 cm tall. This was accompanied by the growth of several new sets of elves as well as the first lateral branches which were growing rapidly. The internodal spacing was fairly high for a plant with such heavy indica genetics; something which wouldn’t change for the rest of the grow. With the switch to flowering just a week away, we once again doubled the volume of water to 400 ml per day.

Lastly, before switching to flowering, we hung small satchels of Neoseiulus californicus and Amblyseius swirskii from the lower branches. These are filled with small predatory critters that live symbiotically with cannabis plants. These bugs won’t harm your plant but they will hunt down pests like thrips and spider mites. We replace these satchels every four weeks to ensure a fresh supply.

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Flowering

In week four, we switched our lights to a 12/12 schedule and began feeding with 800 ml of water (pH 6.0; EC 1.8) mixed with Bio Flower liquid nutrients. Since this is an autoflowering strain, there’s no real need to switch the light schedule, but the massive cost savings on electricity are generally worth any minor increase in yield at the end of a harvest. Lastly, to help prevent the growth of mould, we lowered the humidity to 60%.

By the end of the fourth week, our plant had grown to 38 cm tall and had grown some incredibly lush vegetation. While internodal spacing was still high, the large leaves and long lateral branches produced a tremendous amount of growth.

Over week five, our Sticky Orange XXL Automatic plant grew to a new height of 45 cm and began showing the first signs of flowering. Small clumps of white hairs were appearing at the tops of branches and the plant’s inner nodes. Additionally, the lateral branches had stretched considerably forming a fairly even canopy about ⅔ the height of the plant. With full bloom just around the corner, we increased our daily feedings to 1000 ml.

Week six saw our plant grow to 60 cm tall. This added height, combined with the plant’s lanky frame, meant that it was starting to lean a bit to one side. To prevent it from falling over, we added a support rod tied to the main stem. Flowering was continuing nicely as the buds began to grow in fuller. They were still quite slender, but growing larger each day. This week, we increased the water to 1500 ml per day and we would keep it at this level for the rest of the grow.

As we made our way through week seven, our plant grew to 73 cm tall with much of the stretch coming from the lower part of the plant. By now, the internodal spacing on the stalk and lateral branches was fairly extreme which allowed for incredible airflow without the need for defoliation.

In week eight, our plant’s growth began to gradually slow down and it only gained 7 cm to reach a new height of 80 cm. The buds were growing rapidly and becoming increasingly dense. Some lateral branches were beginning to be pulled down by the weight of their buds, but these branches were surprisingly robust for how slender they were.

Week nine saw our plant continue to slow down as it grew to 84 cm. This slowdown in vertical growth was matched by an equal uptick in bud development as the top of the plant was now a single massive cola. Further down, the tops of the branches were each adorned by a golfball-sized bud just begging to be plucked.

Weeks ten and eleven saw only minor vertical growth as the plant reached 90 cm. By now, the buds on this plant were truly massive, sticky, and covered in glistening trichomes. By now, we were starting to see the first orange hairs appearing which signalled that harvest was just around the corner. Our plant was now giving off so much moisture that we had to lower the humidity to 55%.

In weeks twelve and thirteen, our plant reached its final height of 93 cm and continued to ripen. By now, every bud was rock solid and incredibly sticky to the touch. Most of the hairs had turned orange and it was time to harvest.

Finally, in week fourteen, we harvested our Sticky Orange XXL Automatic cannabis plant at a final height of 93 cm after a total growing time of 94 days.

Harvest

Harvesting our Sticky Orange XXL Automatic cannabis plant was as straightforward as the rest of the grow. To start, we cut it down at the base and removed all of the fan leaves. Next, we hung it upside-down in a dark, climate-controlled room with a constant temperature of 15.5°C and a relative humidity of 50%. We left the plant here to dry until the smaller branches were brittle enough to snap when bent. On average, this takes anywhere from 10-20 days.

Once the plant was dry, we removed the buds and trimmed off the remaining sugar leaves. These buds were sticky and fairly leafy, so this was something of a chore. Thankfully, the plant produced a relatively small number of massive buds (as opposed to dozens of tinier flowers) which helped speed things along.

These trimmed buds were then placed into glass jars for curing. For the first 24 hours, the jars were left unsealed to allow a majority of the remaining moisture to escape/ After a day, each jar was sealed and then regularly “burped” several times a day for an hour at a time. The frequency of these burps was gradually reduced until only once a day was necessary. Typically, this entire process takes four to six weeks.

In the end, we were able to harvest a jaw-dropping 158 grams of dried flowers with an equally impressive THC content of 20.3%.

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Terpene profile

While growing, Sticky Orange XXL Automatic emits a subtle—but distinctly noticeable—aroma mixing pungent floral notes with a more subtle sweetness. The smell isn’t overwhelming, but it’s enough to be a consideration if privacy is a concern. Once cured, the smell of the buds is warmer and spicier with earthy hints of hashish. The flavour isn’t exactly what you’d expect based on the smell as a burst of fresh lemon takes centre stage. Just underneath that, though, are more subtle hints of chocolate, hashish, and earthy spiciness.

As for the effects, this strain is an indica through-and-through. The first thing you’ll notice is a subtle sense of calmness which rapidly gives way to a more full-body deep stoned sensation. Any tight or sore muscles will quickly relax and you’ll find yourself melting deeper and deeper into the couch. The high from Sticky Orange XXL Automatic is intense and surprisingly long-lasting. Seriously, if you’ve got places to be, hold off on this one until the day is done.

The outcome

Overall, this plant is a bit of a contradiction. As an 80% indica, it stays short and flowers fairly quickly. However, it also grows in a distinctly sativa-like pattern with long, slender branches and large spaces between the inner nodes. This combination of short stature, long internodal spacing, and massive yield makes Sticky Orange XXL Automatic an ideal choice for indoor growers who might not have a large space but still want an XXL harvest.