Growing cannabis is a process that requires attention to detail and a significant investment of time, effort, and money. If you want to optimise your resources and maximise your yields, check out the answers to your most frequently asked questions about growing weed below.
Any serious marijuana grower knows that growing marijuana is incredibly difficult. Growing quality marijuana takes lots of diligence, commitment, and resources. With the right marijuana growing tips; however, growing your own marijuana will be a piece of cake.
Even the most seasoned marijuana growers sometimes have a hard time getting a good yield. However, here is a couple of invaluable marijuana growing tips for both newbies and experienced growers.
Great Genetics Are Everything
You don’t have to be a master marijuana grower to know that your marijuana is only as good as its genetics. The first step to growing some good marijuana is finding an excellent cannabis strain, and there are plenty to choose from. So the million-dollar question is, where do I find quality marijuana strains?
Finding the best weed strains is as simple as searching for them on the internet. You’ll find plenty of seed sellers online who can get you high-quality strains. You can use the strain finder from Cannaconection to get a great strain.
However, remember to only buy your cannabis from a reputable seller for the best seed. Some swindlers will sell you schwag seeds for the price of a high-quality strain.
If you find a great strain, remember to take proper care of it for the best results.
Always Grow Inside
If you want the best weed, then always grow your weed inside and not outside. Not saying that your weed won’t grow outside, but it’s highly unlikely you’ll get the results you want.
Growing inside gives you more control of the climate and the entire growth process. Inside is also way hygienic than outside, making it perfect for growing marijuana.
Also, you don’t need an entire greenhouse to grow your marijuana in marijuana grow tent kit. You can use a few grow boxes that measure a few inches, and your results will be just as stunning. Check out these grow boxes from Bloom by Botanicare and see how they work for you.
Have Proper Lighting
Growing marijuana indoors requires a lot of care, and one aspect you can’t overlook is the light. Outdoor marijuana plants have the privilege of receiving natural light from the sun. Since you’re growing yours indoors, you’ll have to make up for the absence of natural light. All growers know that full spectrum LED grow light is best recommended.
To have your lighting in order, invest in high-quality lights, ballast, reflectors, and hoods. Always remember to change the bulbs at least twice a year. Only settle for high-quality bulbs, the second-grade bulbs are just as good as an ordinary light bulb.
If you are afraid with heat which led grow light give out, you can consider Inline Duct Fan which can help you cool your grow room.
Have Strict Bedtimes
Most cannabis strains have a short growing cycle of about eight weeks. As such, you need to have them reach their full potential in just two months.
One way of doing so is by having consistent “day” and “night” times. It’s best if they have about twelve hours of darkness and twelve hours of light each day.
Maintain this cycle for the entire two months, and you’ll grow some healthy cannabis. If you use smart lights, you can set them to turn off after twelve hours automatically and turn on again after another twelve hours.
Take It Phase-By-Phase
Each phase of the marijuana growing cycle has different requirements. In the first growth stage, the plant requires a lot of nitrogen to grow and bloom. During the last stages of the plant’s life cycle, it requires virtually no nitrogen.
If you give it a lot of nitrogen during the last growing stages, then it may end up with a nasty metallic taste. As such, you need to be keen on what you feed your plant at each stage of your life cycle.
Be Careful With What You Feed Your Plants
Nutrient companies will hurl empty promises at your face, and you’re likely going to take the bait. When what they promise seems a bit unrealistic, then it’s probably not true. So don’t spend your money on expensive nutrients that do nothing for your plant.
Also, be on the lookout for knock off nutrients. They do more harm than good for your plants. You can spot knock-offs by their ridiculously low-price tags as compared to the original.
It’s also a good idea to stick to base element nutrients as opposed to pre-mixed ones. You can buy different base element nutrients and mix them by yourself. That way, you can give your plants exactly what they need.
Water Quality Matters… A Lot
All water is not the same because of the quantity and types of dissolved solids in it. These dissolved solids can adversely affect the plant, depending on what they are. Domestic water is a definite no-no because of the chlorine and fluoride used to treat the water.
These chemicals won’t kill your plants, but you won’t get the best results either. If you really want the best from your plants, then invest in a filtration or reverse osmosis system. Once you do, always remember to change your filters frequently for the best water quality.
HOW IMPORTANT IS GENETICS WHEN GROWING WEED?
Genetics plays a significant role in the yield, taste, aroma, and overall growing traits of your plant. Seed selection is therefore a crucial part of the growing process as it will heavily influence the final outcome.
Every grower will have their own preferences when it comes to strains. Some may prefer a powerful, cerebral sativa that leaves them feeling energised and motivated. Others may like a stoney indica or a medicinal strain high in CBD.
The environment where you’re growing is another important factor when choosing cannabis genetics. If you’re growing in a small marijuana grow tent, an autoflowering variety can be optimal. Or maybe you’re planning an outdoor grow and want to grow a gigantic cannabis tree. Other factors, such as climate, will also play a role when choosing genetics.
DO I NEED NUTRIENTS TO GROW CANNABIS?
Unless you’re an experienced grower setting up a purely organic grow (see the previous point), the answer is: Yes, you will (likely) need cannabis nutrients. But don’t just go crazy, as many fatal mistakes can be made if you’re not careful.
More nutrients doesn’t mean more buds. Overfeeding can easily happen, and indeed it is one of the most common mistakes. Seedlings and very young plants don’t need nutrients at all. If you’re growing autoflowers, they will also need less nutrients than photoperiod plants.
If you’re getting soil from a store, chances are it’s already pre-fertilised: These nutrients normally last 3–4 weeks, which is also the average duration of the vegetative phase. Spoken differently, with good soil, you will likely not need to give nutrients until the flowering phase begins.
Cannabis plants require different concentrations of nutrients during each phase of growth. Here are the recommended NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) ratios for veg and flowering:
• Veg NPK: During vegetative growth, cannabis desires a high:low:medium NPK ratio (e.g. 3:1:2) with lots of nitrogen.
• Flowering NPK: Because plants have stopped growing and are now spending energy on producing buds, they need a low:high:medium NPK ratio (e.g. 1:3:2) with little nitrogen but plenty of phosphorus and potassium. To promote bud development in the final weeks of the flowering stage, we recommend modifying the NPK ratio to 0:3:3.
In addition to these basic macronutrients, cannabis also needs micronutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc, etc. Cannabis nutrients normally contain both macro and micronutrients.
• Pro tip: Providing nutrients for your plants is only part of the story. Equally important is that your water/nutrient solution has the proper pH. With an incorrect pH, the plants can’t take in nutrients even if they are present. The optimal pH level for cannabis grown in soil is 6.0–7.0pH. You can adjust the pH of your water with pH down or pH up products.
If you are an advanced gardener, you can make things easier with organic cultivation. With organic fertilisers, microorganisms will feed your ladies for you. pH level fluctuations will also be less of an issue.
Final thoughts
The quality of your marijuana all rests on the attention and care you give to your plants. With these few marijuana growing tips, you’ll be growing the best marijuana in town. Remember, it’s completely okay to invest a little money on your marijuana plants.
Most importantly, treat your plants like your babies and nurture them to healthy, blooming adults. While your cannabis plants grow, be sure to check out other informative pieces on the site.