Hey mate, with the legalization of cannabis across the United States, it’s the best time to grow cannabis. Are you thinking of growing your weed? Guess what? I am here to help you!
Whether you are a new cannabis grower or a veteran in the weed growing journey, here are some amazing tips and tricks to promise you a splendid yield.
The Basics
Growing weed isn’t rocket science. It can be as easy as planting it in your backyard and letting it grow on its own. But of course, if you want luscious, aromatic buds that give you a happy high, you need to put in some time, money, and effort into it.
Let’s begin at the beginning. Take stock of the space for your marijuana garden. This is crucial to determine the method of planting to be followed.
However, the available space can be easily maximized by using advanced innovative designs. Opt for horizontal and growing rooms if you need to maximize the space available to you.
This stage needs some research and planning.
You need to understand the methods and stages of Buyer’s Guide to cannabis glassware growing. Next, list out all the equipment you need for the stages and lay them out.
Many growers like me are freely sharing their growing journey on the internet. Tap into this treasure house of information and understand what to expect.
The Set-Up
As I touched upon earlier, growing marijuana outdoors does not need much effort. You only need to choose the right seeds and nourish the plant with adequate water.
If you are thinking of setting up an indoor herb garden, you need to plan better, though. First, decide on the growing medium. Cannabis plants flourish in both soil and water.
Growing Weed In Water: Hydroponics
This method is for seasoned gardeners as it calls for quite a lot of hands-on experience. But don’t be disheartened if you have only begun. Put on the Beatles classic “got to get you in my life,” and sing along. It might feel the passion for growing your weed, and trust me, that enthusiasm is needed. Growing in hydroponics needs extra care and drive for success.
Soil As The Medium
Marijuana plants thrive in a loamy soil. Prepare your own by using organic manure, or you can always purchase commercially prepared potting soil.
Setting Up Lights
Creating an artificial light setup is the most important factor when it comes to growing marijuana. Though few weed growers prefer fluorescent lights for the grow room, I love LED lights. They are super easy to install, have low heat emission and penetrate better than their fluorescent counterparts. They also spare me from getting a huge electricity bill.
Good old incandescent bulbs can help you kick start your marijuana gardening dreams if you are on a budget. They are common, widely available, and super inexpensive. However, they are less energy-efficient and tend to burn out pretty fast. They generate a lot of heat, and needs to be balanced out with a cooling system.
Depending upon the type of lamp you use, the temperatures will rise when the lights are on.
Other Essentials
Besides the power supply for the lights, you need to make sure that you have a supply of adequate water to nourish your plant babies. Get a maximum-minimum thermometer and hygrometer to monitor the temperatures.
Selecting Seeds
Having the basics in place, it’s time now to choose the seed. I had grown my first from bag seeds of my favorite strain. With the passing years, I prefer to get my seeds from online stores.
Prepared by experienced breeders, store-bought seeds have stable genetics and have a better chance to mature. Aromatic buds are almost always guaranteed. I have got some great growing advice from experienced breeders over the years. Be sure to be on the lookout for the specific temperature, humidity and watering needs of that strain.
Feminized seeds, though on the costlier side, grow the fattest, rich in trichome buds. Go for the darkest seeds. The Indica seeds are typically larger and have a striped exterior. Sativa seeds tend to have smooth, patternless skin and are smaller.
I enjoy curating seeds of different strains. I have a dark, dry and cool corner to store them. Kept with care, healthy plants shoot up from the seeds even after two years of storage.
The Germination Stage
To germinate, either sow the seeds straight into the soil or germinate them on a paper towel moistened with water and enzymes. Keep the seeds warm, moist and provide them with sufficient air. You should be able to meet the tiny seedlings in less than a week.
Choose The Correct Pot
After germination comes potting, deep pots with holes at the lower side are perfect to pot the seeds. These holes will drain off excess water, aerate the roots and prevent them from rotting.
Nutrients And Other Details
Before planting, check the pH level of the soil. I use peat moss or limestone to adjust the soil ph. While watering, moist the soil, but take care it is not too wet. Too much wetness can cause root rot.
Nourish your plants with adequate organic nutrients and good bacteria. Cannabis plants have specific nutritional needs for each growth stage. As the seeds are packed with enough nutrients, they do not need external fertilization. Adding any nutrient to the soil at this level might harm the growth. The plant might need an external supply of nutrients when it enters the flowering stage.
A Balanced Attitude Goes A Long Way
I often say, growing marijuana is as much an art as it is science. The art is in choosing the right balance and sticking to it. Humidity and temperature are the key factors for growing cannabis; you need to be super cautious about them.
Overwatering is a big no-no, and lighting has to be strategic. Lights produce heat that raises the humidity. The rise in heat and humidity leads to low yields.
I take extra care while feeding the plants with fertilizers and nutrients. In the beginning years, I have had sad cases of plants dying or producing low-quality buds.
Only with time and experience, I learn that providing the plant with nutrients and fertilizers do more harm than good. Only observation can help you find the right balance of fertilizer for your plant.
Don’t overcrowd your grow room or garden with many plants. You might feel more plants mean more buds. But that is not true. A crowded growing area will make it difficult for you to take care of the plants individually.
Pest Problems
Don’t spray the plants with pesticides thinking that it will prevent future pest attacks. On the contrary, these pesticides tend to harm the balance of the soil and inhibit the growth process.
Only if you come across pests, pick the appropriate pesticide and follow the dosage instructions to the tee. Go organic and avoid chemical pesticides as far as possible.
Pruning The Plants
Pruning is a practice that allows the plant to produce a large number of buds. Snip off all the little branches that would produce tiny buds. The plant will then be able to channel all its energy on the main stem. This will ensure more trichome-rich buds.
Once you get accustomed to the plant, you can clone your healthy cannabis plant. Snip off a stem from the mother plant, dip it into rooting hormone, and put it in the medium of your choice.
I am sure this guide has inspired you enough to embark on the weed-growing journey. Well, I always trust the online store, Homegrown Cannabis Co., for their amazing quality of feminized seeds. You can check them out too. They also provide growing advice from the expert breeders that they are.
I feel excited for you. Growing weed might take hard work, but trust me when I say that the first drag of smoke from your grown weed will make you feel that all of it was worth it—all the best, mate.