⏰ Is 12/12 in Veg OPTIMAL, or BUNK?! Plus, Caring for Mothers, with Dr. Coco
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In this episode of GrowCast, host Jordan River welcomes back Dr. Coco, a leading expert in cannabis cultivation, to dive into the controversial topic of eliminating the vegetative phase by running clones and seeds from 12-12 light cycles. While acknowledging the potential efficiency gains—such as reduced labor and faster harvest cycles—the hosts critically examine the claims made in a recent High Times article, pointing out flawed assumptions like infinite clone supply, ignored labor increases in mother rooms, and unrealistic yield projections. Dr. Coco emphasizes that shortening veg time requires careful balancing of plant density, clone availability, and structural limits, especially for commercial growers. The conversation also explores the art and science of mother plant care, stressing the importance of strategic pruning, consistent lighting, and avoiding under-lighting, which can trigger hermaphroditism even in healthy plants. The episode concludes with a powerful message: teaching others is the ultimate path to mastering your craft, and consistency in cultivation is key to success.
Shortening or eliminating the veg phase can increase harvest frequency but often leads to higher labor in mother rooms and cloning, negating claimed savings.
Mother plants must be strategically pruned and maintained with consistent, high PPFD lighting to prevent hermaphroditism and ensure clone quality.
Plant density and genetics are critical—running 2 plants per square foot requires specific, compact genetics like Double Stuffed Oreo.
The claim of 37% labor reduction is misleading; it ignores labor increases in cloning, potting, and harvest processing.
Consistency in light, temperature, and humidity is more important than chasing ideal metrics—plants thrive on predictability.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome Back: Dr. Coco Returns to GrowCast
Host Jordan River welcomes back Dr. Coco, a longtime friend and expert in cannabis cultivation, to discuss 12-12 growing, mother plant care, and recent industry trends.
The 12-12 Debate: Is Zero Veg Optimal?
“The math doesn’t math. You can’t go from four harvests to six by just cutting two weeks from veg—especially if you’re already doing five.”
The Hidden Costs of Zero Veg: Labor, Space, and Density
“If you're going from 300 to 600 plants, you're not just doubling the number—you're doubling the labor, the cloning, the potting, and the harvest processing.”
Mother Plant Care: The Art of the Grow
“Managing mom rooms is still an art. It requires really thinking about the plants. You’re not just following a recipe—you’re sculpting growth.”
The Hermaphroditism Mystery: Under-Lighting as a Hidden Trigger
“If you systematically underlight your plants during veg—like at 100 PPFD—then the clones taken from those moms will still herm, even if lit perfectly later.”
“If you systematically underlight your plants during veg—like at 100 PPFD—then the clones taken from those moms will still herm, even if lit perfectly later.”
“The math doesn’t math. You can’t go from four harvests to six by just cutting two weeks from veg—especially if you’re already doing five.”
“If you're going from 300 to 600 plants, you're not just doubling the number—you're doubling the labor, the cloning, the potting, and the harvest processing.”
Host
Guest
Dr. Coco
person
Jordan River
person
GrowCast
media
High Times
other
GrowCast Membership
other
DrMJCoco.com
product
PPFD
other
Cocoa for Cannabis
product
LARF
other
Double Stuffed Oreo
other
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