Managing Backup Clones After the Phenohunt

Following up on the previous post where we harvested the phenohunting run, this video shows the area where all the backup copies of those selected clones are being kept.

This space held copies of every selected plant from the hunt, waiting for the harvest material to fully dry so we can properly evaluate, compare, and organize both the plants and the final product. Over time, this area turned into a real jungle.

As plant mass increased, humidity started to build up inside the structure. Airflow became limited, light penetration dropped, and the risk of creating microclimates for pests and diseases increased. At that point, keeping everything untouched was no longer an option.

For that reason, we decided to act fast and dedicate a full day to a very aggressive lollipopping and defoliation. The goal wasn’t aesthetics, but preservation: reducing internal humidity, restoring airflow, and keeping these plants healthy enough to hold them until final decisions are made.

These plants are not here to perform or produce. They are here to survive long enough to be evaluated. Once the drying, analysis, and selection process is complete, only the individuals chosen to move forward will remain. Everything else will be removed. This is part of the reality of working at scale: maintenance, hard cuts, and removing what is no longer necessary to protect what still matters.