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Looking to grow your own medical cannabis at home? Here’s a complete guide on how to get started, from planting to harvesting.
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The Basics of Growing Medical Cannabis
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a plant that has been used for medical purposes for centuries. The active ingredient in cannabis is THC, which is responsible for the plant’s medicinal properties. THC is a Schedule I drug, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse and is not currently accepted for medical use in the United States. However, a growing body of research suggests that THC may have therapeutic benefits for a variety of conditions.
What You’ll Need
If you want to grow medical cannabis at home, you’ll need a few things:
-Cannabis seeds
-A grow room or grow tent
-Grow lights
-Ventilation and fans
-Temperature and humidity monitors
-Nutrients and fertilizers
-pH test kit
You’ll also need to be familiar with the basics of growing cannabis. To get started, you’ll need to:
-Select a cannabis strain that is suitable for your needs.
-Germinate your cannabis seeds.
-Transplant your seedlings into your grow space.
-Provide adequate lighting, ventilation, and temperature control for your plants.
-Monitor your plants carefully and provide them with the nutrients they need to thrive.
-Harvest your crop when it is mature and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
The Grow Space
The first thing you need to set up your grow space is to choose the right location. The space should be large enough to accommodate all of your equipment and plants, and it should have easy access to an electrical outlet. The room should also have good ventilation to prevent mold and mildew from developing.
Once you have found the perfect location for your grow space, the next step is to set up your grow room. This can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be, but there are a few essential pieces of equipment that you will need.
You will need:
-Grow lights: These provide the light that your plants need to grow. There are many different types of grow lights available, so do some research to find the best type for your needs.
-Ventilation system: This will help to circulate fresh air in your grow room and remove any unwanted odors.
-Growing medium: This is what your plants will grow in. There are many different types of growing mediums available, so choose one that is best suited for your needs.
-Watering system: This will help you to keep your plants well hydrated. There are many different types of watering systems available, so choose one that is best suited for your needs.
-Nutrients: These are essential for healthy plant growth. There are many different types of nutrients available, so choose one that is best suited for your needs
The Planting Process
Before planting, you will need to obtain some quality cannabis seeds. You can find these at your local dispensary or online. Once you have your seeds, you will need to decide on a grow location. This can be indoors or outdoors, but make sure you have enough space for your plants to grow. Once you have your location picked out, you will need to prepare the soil.
Soil or Hydroponics?
One of the first things you need to decide when growing medical cannabis at home is whether to grow in soil or hydroponics. Soil is the traditional way to grow plants, and it’s very easy to do. You can buy soil mix at any garden center, and all you need is a pot and some water. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in water without soil. It’s more complicated than growing in soil, but some people prefer it because it produces bigger yields and clearer potency.
The Seed
Cannabis seeds come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. You can find them online or at your local dispensary. Be sure to get feminized seeds, as they have a higher chance of germinating (and therefore, produce more buds).
Once you have your seeds, it’s time to start the planting process. You’ll need to choose a grow medium, pots or containers, and a location for your plants.
Grow mediums include soil, coco coir, hydroponics, and aeroponics. Soil is the most common and easiest to use, but coco coir (a type of coconut fiber) is also popular. Hydroponics and aeroponics are two growing methods that don’t use any soil at all – just water and nutrients.
Pots or containers can be made out of plastic, metal, fabric, or even recycled materials like milk jugs or 2-liter soda bottles. Just make sure they have drainage holes at the bottom so excess water can escape.
As for location, you’ll need to choose a spot that gets plenty of sunlight – 6 to 8 hours per day is ideal. If you live in a warmer climate, you can get away with less sunlight. But if you live in a colder climate (or if it’s winter), you may need to use grow lights to supplement the sunlight your plants are getting.
The Germination Process
The first stage of growing your own medical cannabis is called germination. This is when the seedlings first sprout from their seeds. Germination can be done in a number of ways, but the most common method is to start them in small pots filled with soil mix.
You will need to keep the soil moist but not soggy, and warm, around 21-26 degrees Celsius. Room temperature is usually fine. Seeds will usually germinate within 7-14 days, although some may take longer. Once the seeds have germinated, you will need to transplant them into larger pots.
Medical cannabis needs a lot of light to grow well, so choose a spot in your house that gets plenty of sunlight. A south-facing window is ideal. You will also need to provide some artificial light if there is not enough natural light available. Cannabis plants need at least 16 hours of light per day during their vegetative stage, and 12 hours per day during their flowering stage.
Cannabis plants also need fresh air, so make sure to provide good ventilation for your grow room or area. An oscillating fan can help circulate the air and keep your plants healthy.
The Vegetative Stage
The vegetative stage of medical cannabis is when the plant is growing and maturing. This stage can last anywhere from 2 to 16 weeks, depending on the strain . During this stage, you will want to make sure the plant has enough light, water, and nutrients.
Lighting
As your plants grow, they will begin to stretch and grow taller to reach for the light. At this point, you may need to begin adjusting your lights so that they are closer to the plant canopy. The amount of light your plants need will depend on the type of light you are using.
If you are using HID (High-Intensity Discharge) lights, you will want to keep the light about 18-24 inches from the top of the plant. If you are using LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights, you can keep the light a bit closer, about 12-16 inches from the top of the plant. You will also want to make sure that your lights are on for at least 18 hours per day.
Watering
During the vegetative stage, your cannabis plants will be actively growing and will need plenty of water and nutrients. Depending on the size of your grow space and the number of plants you are growing, you will need to water them every one to three days. It is important to always check the soil before watering to make sure that it is dry. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so be careful not to water too often.
When watering your plants, you should use distilled water or water that has been filtered to remove any impurities. Cannabis plants are very sensitive to chemicals and even trace amounts of pesticides or herbicides can harm them. You should also avoid using hard water, as the high calcium content can build up in the soil and prevent the roots from absorbing nutrients properly.
If you are growing your plants in soil, you will need to fertilize them every two weeks or so with a high-quality nutrient solution. If you are growing in hydroponics, you will need to add nutrients to the water every time you water your plants. There are many different types of nutrient solutions available, so be sure to consult with a professional before choosing one for your cannabis plants.
Nutrients
ratio of two major nutrients in the grow medium. Nitrogen (N) is needed for vegetative growth, while Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) are important for flowering and fruiting. In general, a 10-10-10NPK fertilizer is a good all-purpose choice for cannabis, but you may need to adjust the proportions depending on the type of grow medium you’re using and the stage of growth your plants are in.
The Flowering Stage
The flowering stage is when the cannabis plant starts to grow its flowers. This is when the plant starts to produce the cannabinoids and terpenes that we want. The flowering stage is a critical time for the cannabis plant, and it needs to be done right in order to get good results.
Lighting
When it comes to growing medical cannabis at home, lighting is key. Flowering plants need 12-14 hours of darkness each day in order to produce buds, so it’s important to make sure your grow space has adequate lighting.
During the flowering stage, you will want to use a light setup that provides full spectrum light, meaning it emits all wavelengths of light visible to the human eye. This type of light is most similar to natural sunlight and will produce the best results. HPS (high pressure sodium) and MH (metal halide) lights are common choices for full spectrum lighting.
You will also want to make sure your lights are suspended high enough above the plants so that they don’t get too close and burn the leaves. In general, HPS lights should be about 18 inches above the plant canopy, and MH lights should be about 24 inches above.
Finally, you will need to adjust your light cycle as the plants begin to flower. For the first two weeks of flowering, keep your lights on for 14 hours per day. Then, gradually reduce the amount of time the lights are on each day by 30 minutes until you reach a 12-hour light cycle. This gradual reduction in light exposure simulates the changing seasons and encourages plants to produce more buds.
Watering
Your cannabis plants will need more water as they grow and enter the flowering stage. The roots will continue to grow larger, and the plant will begin to produce more flowers (buds). The amount of water your plants need will depend on many factors, including the size and type of pots you are using, the type of soil, the temperature and humidity of your grow room, and how much light your plants are getting.
As a general rule of thumb, you should water your plants when the top inch or two of soil is dry. Stick your finger in the soil to check it. If it is dry, water your plant until the water runs out of the bottom of the pot. If you are using a soil mix that contains peat moss or coco coir, it will take longer for the soil to dry out so you may only need to water your plants once a week or less.
If you are growing in containers with drainage holes, be sure to empty any water that collects in the saucer under the pot after each watering. Cannabis roots need oxygen to stay healthy, and too much water can cause them to rot.
Nutrients
One of the most important things to remember during flowering is that your plant will require different nutrients than it did during vegetative growth. Just as humans need different vitamins and minerals at different stages of life, so do plants. During the flowering stage, your cannabis plant will need more phosphorus and potassium and less nitrogen. You can find fertilizers that are specifically designed for the flowering stage, or you can adjust the ratio of nutrients in the fertilizer you’re already using.
As your plants begin to flower, you may also notice that they start to stretch. This is normal! Flowering triggers a growth hormone called auxin, which causes plants to grow taller and thinner. To prevent your plants from getting too leggy, you can use a process called topping (or fimming). This involves trimmed off the top of the plant, which allows it to grow multiple main colas (the large buds at the top of the plant) instead of just one.
The Harvest
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the final stage of growing your own medical cannabis at home! Now it’s time to reap the rewards of your patience and hard work. In this section, we’ll guide you through the harvest process step-by-step so that you can enjoy your very own homegrown medical cannabis.
Trimming
Next, the buds need to be trimmed of their large fan leaves. These leaves don’t have many trichomes and don’t contribute much to the appearance, smell, or taste of your final product. You can save these leaves to make cannabis edibles or hash.
Trimming is a slow process that some people dread, but with a little practice, you’ll get the hang of it and it won’t take as long as you think. Start by wetting your trimming scissors in rubbing alcohol. This will help to prevent the spread of mold or mildew. Then, start snipping away the large fan leaves from each bud. Be careful not to cut too close to the bud itself—you don’t want to lose any of those precious trichomes!
Once all the big leaves are trimmed, you can go back and remove any small leaves that are still clinging to the buds. These are called sugar leaves because of their dusting of trichomes, and they can be saved to make hash or edibles as well. When you’re finished trimming, your buds should look something like this:
Drying and Curing
Drying and curing are two definitely separate processes and both are crucial to the quality of your final product. Drying is pretty straightforward and can be accomplished a number of ways. Curing, on the other hand, is a bit more involved but definitely worth taking the time to do it right.
Drying:
The goal of drying is to slowly remove all the moisture from the buds so that they will be less susceptible to mold and bacteria. It also begins the process of breaking down some of the chlorophyll so that the final product will have a better flavor. There are several methods that can be used for drying, but the two most common are air-drying (also called hang-drying) and machine-drying.
Air-drying is exactly what it sounds like – you simply hang your newly harvested buds up in a dark room with good airflow until they are completely dry. This method is often used by small-scale growers because it doesn’t require any special equipment, just a dark room with good airflow (a closet or unused room works great). The downside to air-drying is that it can take quite awhile – anywhere from 1-2 weeks – so you will need to be patient.
Machine-drying uses forced air to speed up the drying process. The most common type of machine used for this purpose is a food dehydrator, which can be purchased at most kitchen supply stores. Simply spread your buds out on the dehydrator trays (without touching each other) and set it to the lowest temperature setting. Run it for 12 hours, then check on your buds and see if they are dry to the touch. If not, give them another 12 hours and check again. Repeat this process until they are completely dry.
Curing:
Curing is the process of preserving your buds so that they will stay fresh for as long as possible while still maintaining their potency, flavor, and aroma. Curing also helps to further break down the chlorophyll so that your final product will have an even better flavor. Curing is done by storing your dried buds in airtight containers (mason jars work great) in a cool, dark place for 4-8 weeks – longer if you can wait!
During this time, you will need to “burp” your jars every few days to allow fresh air in and prevent mold from forming. To do this, simply unscrew the lid (just enough to break the seal), give them a quick shake or stir, then screw the lid back on tightly again.
After 4-8 weeks (or longer), your cannabis should be cured and ready to enjoy!
