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Looking to grow your own good cannabis? Check out our blog for tips and tricks on how to get the best results! We’ll show you how to choose the right strain , set up your grow space, and more.
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Start with Good Soil
Cannabis is a pretty easy plant to grow, but you can make it even easier by starting with good soil. Good soil will help your plants grow healthy and strong, and it will also help them resist disease. You can buy good quality soil at your local garden center, or you can make your own.
What is good cannabis soil?
There are a lot of ways to grow cannabis, but starting with good soil is the foundation of a healthy, productive plant. Good cannabis soil should be loose and airy, well-drained, and rich in organic matter. It should have a slightly acidic pH level, around 6.0-6.5.
There are many ways to make good cannabis soil, but one of the simplest is to start with a basic potting mix and amend it with some organic matter. Peat moss, compost, and perlite are all good options for amendment. You can also add some fertilizers to your mix, but be sure to use ones that are specifically designed for cannabis plants – too much nitrogen can produce unhealthy growth.
Once you have your soil mix ready, it’s time to start planting! Be sure to plant your seeds or clones in individual pots so that each plant has plenty of room to grow. Water your plants regularly, using distilled or filtered water if your tap water is high in minerals. When it’s time to harvest your crop, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful, healthy plants – and great-tasting buds!
How to make your own cannabis soil
Cannabis plants need a lot of nutrients to grow big and healthy, and one of the best ways to ensure your plants get everything they need is to start with good soil. While you can certainly buy pre-made cannabis soil at your local grow shop, it’s not always necessary — you can also make your own!
Here’s a quick and easy guide to making your own cannabis soil:
1. Start with a base of good quality potting mix or all-purpose garden soil. If you’re using potting mix, be sure to choose one that’s light and airy, not too dense.
2. Add some organic matter to your soil. This could be compost, aged manure, or even just some simple kitchen scraps like eggshells or coffee grounds.
3. Mix in some perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage and aeration.
4. Add a tablespoon or two of organic fertilizer per gallon of soil. This will help give your plants a little extra boost as they start to grow.
5. Once everything is mixed together well, you’re ready to plant! Be sure to water your soil thoroughly before planting, and then water again as needed to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Get the Right Lighting
Growing healthy cannabis starts with getting the right lighting. cannabis plants need lots of light to grow well, but too much light can be just as harmful as too little. The best way to provide your plants with the light they need is to use grow lights .
How much light do cannabis plants need?
Cannabis plants need a lot of light to grow well, but how much light depends on the stage of growth. For example, young cannabis seedlings need far less light than mature plants.
As a rule of thumb, during vegetative growth, your plants will need about 18 hours of light per day. This can be provided by natural sunlight, artificial lighting, or a combination of both.
During flowering, your plants will need 12 hours of darkness per day (this is why most growers switch to artificial lighting during this stage). Some growers believe that providing more light during flowering can result in larger yields, but this is not always the case. Too much light can actually stress your plants and reduce the quality of your buds.
The best way to determine how much light your plants need is to observe them carefully and make adjustments as needed. If your plants are stretchy and leggy, they may be trying to reach for more light. On the other hand, if they are stunted or pale in color, they may be getting too much light.
What are the best lights for growing cannabis?
There are a variety of different lights that can be used to grow cannabis, but some are better than others. Here is a rundown of the most popular types of lights for growing cannabis, as well as their pros and cons.
LED Lights
LEDs are the newest type of light on the market and are quickly becoming the preferred choice for many growers. They are more energy-efficient than other types of lights and emit very little heat, so they can be placed closer to your plants without worrying about burning them.LEDs are also very long-lasting, so you won’t have to replace them as often as other types of lights.
CFL Lights
CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) are another type of energy-efficient light that produces very little heat. They are not as bright as LEDs, so they need to be placed closer to your plants.CFLs also tend to produce less intense light, which can result in stunted growth or fewer buds.
HID Lights
HIDs (high intensity discharge lights) are the most popular type of light for growing cannabis. They are very bright and can be placed further away from your plants than other types of lights.However, HIDs produce a lot of heat and can quickly overheat your grow room if they are not properly ventilated.
Water and Nutrients
Giving your cannabis plants the right amount of water and nutrients is critical to their growth and development. Overwatering and underwatering are both detrimental to plant health, so it’s important to find a happy medium. The type of water you use (tap, distilled, rain, etc.) can also affect your plants.
How often should you water cannabis plants?
How often you water your cannabis plants will depend on a few factors, including the size and type of pot you’re using, the type of soil, the climate, and the stage of growth your plant is in.
As a general rule, young plants should be watered every few days, while mature plants can be watered once or twice a week. When in doubt, it’s always better to underwater your plants than to overwater them.
If you’re growing cannabis in a hot climate, you may need to water your plants more often. If you’re growing in a cool climate or during the winter months, you may need to water your plants less often.
Brown spots on leaves or dry/crunchy leaves can be signs that your plant is thirsty and needs more water. Yellow leaves may indicate that you’re overwatering your plant. If roots are coming out of the drainage holes in the bottom of your pot, that’s another sign that you might be watering your plant too much.
What kind of nutrients do cannabis plants need?
Cannabis plants are heavy feeders and require a lot of nutrients to grow well. The three main macronutrients that cannabis plants need are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These are typically referred to as N-P-K. In addition to these macronutrients, cannabis also benefits from a number of micronutrients, which are needed in smaller quantities but are just as important for plant health.
Nitrogen is responsible for the growth of leaves and chlorophyll production, and it is an essential part of the photosynthesis process. Nitrogen is often the nutrient that is lacking in soil, so if your plants are looking yellow and sickly, they may be lacking nitrogen.
Phosphorus is responsible for the growth of roots and flowers. Phosphorus is especially important during the flowering stage, when it helps to produce strong stems and vibrant flowers.
Potassium is responsible for the overall health of the plant, including disease resistance and water uptake. Potassium is also involved in the production of chlorophyll and helps to regulate photosynthesis.
The above three macronutrients are typically present in most commercial fertilizers, but they can also be found in organic amendments such as compost or manure. In addition to these macronutrients, cannabis also needs a number of micronutrients, which are needed in smaller quantities but are just as important for plant health. These micronutrients include calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, boron, copper, zinc, and molybdenum.
Pruning and Training
Pruning and training are two of the most important things you can do to ensure your cannabis plants grow healthy and strong. Pruning helps to remove any weak or sickly branches, as well as any that are growing in the wrong direction. Training helps to ensure that the main stem of the plant gets the most light, which in turn helps the plant to produce more buds.
What is pruning?
Pruning is thealsoroutine removal of diseased, damaged, non-productive, or otherwise unwanted plant parts. In cannabis, this goal is often twofold: to improve airflow and light penetration to the lower canopy, and to encourage the growth of new shoots (suckers) from the base of the plant.
Topping, or pinching off the growing tip of a main shoot, is a popular pruning technique that results in two new main shoots (instead of one) emerging from where the removedshoot was originally growing. Main-lining is another popular method that involves training a plant’s main cola to grow horizontally using stakes, string, or other support structures.
Pruning can be done at any time during the vegetative stage, but generally speaking, it’s best to start once your plants have reached about 6 inches (15 cm) in height.
What is training?
Training is the process of manipulating the plant’s natural growth to encourage a desired shape. It is often used in conjunction with pruning. There are several training methods, but the most common are topping, FIMing, LSTing, Scrogging, and Manicuring.
Topping and FIMing are both ways of encouraging the plant to grow more branches by cutting off the main stem. Topping involves simply cutting off the very top of the main stem, while FIMing (which stands for “F*ck I Missed”) involves removing a portion of the main stem, leaving a small section intact. This encourages the growth of multiple new tops.
LSTing (which stands for “Low Stress Training”) is a technique that involves bending and tieing down the plant’s stems to create a desired shape. The goal of LSTing is to create a flat canopy so that all parts of the plant receive an equal amount of light exposure. This results in more even growth and larger yields.
Scrogging is another technique that is used to create a flat canopy. Unlike LSTing, which involves bendings the stems, scrogging involves training the plant by weaving it through a lattice or screen that is placed above the plant. As the plant grows, it fills in the empty spaces in the lattice/screen, creating a flat canopy.
Manicuring is not technically a training method, but it is often done in conjunction with training. Manicuring involves removing any leaves or buds that will not receive adequate light exposure due to theplant’s desired shape/structure. This helps prevent bud rot and ensures that all parts of the plant are getting an equal amount of light (which results in more even growth and larger yields).
Harvesting and Curing
After your cannabis plants have been flowered and dried, it’s time to harvest your hard work! Here are some tips on how to get the best possible yield and produce high quality buds.
When is it time to harvest your cannabis plants?
The time it takes for a cannabis plant to mature depends on the strain you are growing. Generally, indica strains take about 8 weeks to mature, while sativa strains can take up to 10 weeks. However, there are always exceptions to the rule. The best way to determine if your plant is ready to harvest is to use a magnifying glass or jeweler’s loupe to closely examine the trichomes, which are the tiny resin glands that cover the buds and leaves of the plant. These glands contain THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids and terpenes that give cannabis its unique aroma and flavor.
When the trichomes are mostly clear with just a few amber/brown ones mixed in, this indicates that the plant is not quite ready. If most of the trichomes are amber/brown, this indicates that the plant is probably past peak maturity and some of the THC has begun to degrade into CBN (cannabinol). Although CBN is not as potent as THC, it can still produce mild psychoactive effects.
The ideal time to harvest your plants is when approximately 50-60% of the trichomes have turned amber/brown. This will give you buds that are potent but not overly sedative. Of course, ultimately it is up to you when you want to harvest your plants based on the desired effect you are looking for.
How to cure your cannabis
Once your cannabis is completely dry, it’s time to start the curing process. This is when the real magic happens and your weed goes from good to great. Curing allows the different chemicals in the cannabis to break down, which improves the taste, smell, and effects of your weed. It also makes it smoother to smoke.
To start curing your weed, you’ll need an airtight container like a mason jar. Fill the jar about ¾ of the way full with dry buds, then seal it tightly. Every day for the next week or two, open the jar for a few minutes to let fresh air in. This will help prevent your weed from becoming too moist and developing mold.
After a week or two of curing, your weed should be ready to smoke. Enjoy!
