Lately, several states across the world have been legalizing the use of marijuana for both recreational and medical purposes. The majority of cannabis users in such regions access the (hemp oil) product from dispensaries. However, the legality of this plant means that consumers have the opportunity to cultivate cannabis on their own.
Only a few of regular consumers of cannabis grow it in their homes. The low numbers are down to the perception that marijuana cultivation is costly, cumbersome, and time-consuming. This is not true. In fact, growing cannabis of your own is fun, simple, and most importantly, cheaper than buying this product from dispensaries.
Before you start growing cannabis, you’ll obviously need to learn the basics. Below are insightful beginner’s tips on how to cultivate marijuana.
Preparation:
First, you have to decide whether you want to grow your cannabis indoors or outdoors. Depending on your preference, there are several growing mediums to choose from. These include:
- Deepwater culture hydroponics – this is an indoor growing medium where the plant roots grow in a tub of water. The water is laced with nutrients that are regularly replenished. This main advantage of this method is that it promotes fast growth.
- Coco coir method – in this method, the plant is cultivated on a growing made of fibrous coconut husks and perlite. It is suited for beginners because of its high moisture and nutrient retention.
- Outdoor growing – this is the most popular method of growing marijuana. It is less-demanding because you don’t have to add nutrients as the plant develops. However, you will have to monitor moisture levels closely to avoid overwatering.
Seed Selection:
The quality of seeds you choose largely influences the quality of the cannabis buds you will harvest. The choice of seeds is determined by the desired aftereffect of consuming marijuana. Some strains will calm you, while others will make you feel motivated. If you are consuming cannabis for medicinal purposes, you should go for strains with high quantities of CBD.
Another factor to consider when choosing seeds are the preferred growing medium. For indoor growing systems, you should go for auto-flowering variants. If space is abundant, go for strains that produce huge bushes.
Sufficient Lighting:
Similar to other plants, cannabis relies on photosynthesis to produce the energy required for its growth and development. Without sufficient lighting, this process is impossible – meaning that your plants will wilt and eventually die.
Obviously, natural light is the best for growing any plant. However, exposing your plants to sunlight can be challenging, especially if you are cultivating indoors. In such cases, you have to invest in powerful artificial sources such as HPS and LEDs.
Fertilizers and Nutrients:
Sometimes, the quality of soil at your disposal is inadequate to support the growth of your cannabis plants. This is when you should look for fertilizers and nutrients such as agron.io/products/botanicare-kind-grow-2-2-4 to enhance the potency and quality of your soil.
A popular way of increasing the effectiveness of fertilizers is the use of enzymes. The enzymes will increase the surface area of the roots, making it easier for the plants to absorb the nutrients provided by the fertilizers. Moreover, they also dissolve nutrients increasing the speed of their absorption.
Ventilation and Aeration:
Ventilation is crucial in the development of all plants. In addition, sufficient aeration also prevents moulding. Moulds usually flourish in damp environments where airflow is restricted. To achieve optimum airflow in enclosed growing areas, it is advisable to install fans and dehumidifiers. If you grow outdoors, ensure that the spacing between the plants is sufficient to provide enough ventilation.
Optimize Temperatures:
Maintaining temperatures at the recommended levels guarantees the production of quality marijuana. The optimal daytime temperature range for growing cannabis at its flowering stage is 18 to 26oC. During the night, the ideal range is 20 to 24oC.
When growing the plant outdoors, the best season is spring. This is because it will mature in summer when temperatures aren’t an issue. Extremely low temperatures, mainly experienced in winter, have the potential of killing the plant before maturity.
In indoor growing environments, it is much easier to regulate temperatures. With the help of wall thermometers, you know whether to use a heater to increase the temperature of an air conditioner to reduce it to the desired level.
Regulating Humidity:
Although many growers find it trivial, humidity plays a key role in determining the quality of cannabis produced. Humidity is the amount of water vapour in air at a given time.
Various stages of cannabis development have different demands regarding humidity. At the vegetative stage, the plant requires high humidity to facilitate the fast growth of levels. The flowering phase, on the other hand, requires less humidity. Also, less humidity prevents the formation of mould.
You need a hygrometer to measure humidity. To regulate it, you need humidifiers and dehumidifiers.
The ideal time for applying fertilizers is 3-4 weeks after germination. It is also worth noting that incorrect application of fertilizers can have adverse effects on the plants.
Harvesting, Drying, and Curing:
Typically, cannabis takes 3-5 months to mature. At this stage, it is ready for harvesting.
The optimum conditions for drying marijuana are 50% humidity and a temperature of 21oC. For the best results, the drying area should be dark.
Most people prefer to dry by hanging. This is done by cutting the branches into 2-foot pieces which are then hanged below the roof of the growing area. You should avoid placing the branches near the fan or dehumidifier during this process. If the buds start snapping when bent, the drying process is complete.
After drying, the next step is curing your buds. This stage requires glass jars which serve as the temporary storage until the buds are ready for consumption. For optimal results, place the jars in a cool and dry space free from any light. You should regularly open the jars to allow for air exchange as well as remove buds affected by mould. Remember, buds that are cured for longer periods produce more pleasant smoke than those cured for shorter times.
