Before starting cannabis grow from the comfort of your home, it is imperative that you research your federal laws very well, this way, you could avoid certain problems with the state and with the police, since, despite some local subsidies for the cultivation of Cannabis such as Cannabis clubs for tourist, in certain places, the practice is still prohibited at the federal level.
The interesting thing about growing from home is that you have total control of your environment, generating high-quality plants and saving a lot of money. Indoor growing can provide different strategies to improve THC concentration, such as applying higher levels of CO2, which will make the buds even bigger.
1. Prepare your garden
Before you start the whole process, you need to have all the crucial tools in hand for cannabis planting. Here is a list of these materials to get your garden off to a good start.
- First, visualize the planting area, it should be spacious enough for the plants to grow, whether it is a closet, basement, non-habitable room, planting tents or other places that meet those characteristics.
- Second, buy lights for your crop, although they come in different forms, it is recommended that you use high-pressure sodium lights.
- Third, determine the ideal size for your growth, either in soil or with a hydroponic system.
- Fourth, buy the necessary nutrients!
- Fifth, locate and purchase the appropriate seeds.
2. Choose Your Seeds
This process is relevant because selecting seeds is very delicate; the height, colour, aroma of the plant will depend on the quality of the seed, try to avoid green, damaged or pale seeds because they are not yet qualified for germination process.
The seeds should be dark brown, their shape should resemble that of a teardrop and be enclosed in a hard shell, if it has dark tiger stripes, this means that they are indica seeds, and brown tiger stripes are Sativa seeds.
Undoubtedly, it is important to select regular or feminized seeds, even if the latter are more expensive, they will make the plant that grows to be female with a 99% of probability and generally the bud of the female plants is the biggest.
On the other hand, regular seeds will provide both male and female plants, which could be risky because depending on the number of males that come out, the harvest can be drastically reduced.
3. How to Germinate Your Seeds?
You have two options for this procedure; plant them directly in the growing area or germinate them through a plant plug, necessary if they are growing hydroponically. You must consider that not all seeds will flower and their germination time will depend on many factors, most commonly between 2 to 7 days.
4. The Soaking Method
You will have an effective and easy method to germinate the seeds if you fill a cup with warm water and drop the seeds, some of them will float, those are the ones you should remove and you will cover the rest. In the next 24-48 hours, they will begin to sprout roots and once they have grown a quarter of an inch, you should carefully transfer them to their place of cultivation.
5. Germination Tips
To speed up germination, you need the seeds to be warm, once you have them ready to take to the ground, do it by placing them two centimetres deep, you must also keep in mind that the seeds should be moist but not wet, you can not let them dry because it will damage the growth process.
6. How to Water The Sowing
Many beginners tend to overfeed the seedlings, this can cause them to drown, it is important to water them with the correct amount of water and in this way, the plants are prepared to support the flowering buds. Two cups of water per plant will be enough for the first few days, apply in circles around the base where you planted and repeat the process carefully on all of them.
As the plant grows, you should increase the amount of water, the average watering is every 2-3 days, when it starts to have roots, it will be able to receive more water.
7. Transplanting
This is done when the plants have stronger roots, carefully move them to your garden, also changing them to a larger container. The process should be done in low light, this way, the plants will get used to their environment before the next photosynthesis cycle begins.
8. The Vegetative Stage
At this stage, the plants will produce new stems and leaves without buds, their care is simple, basic gardening knowledge is enough, watering the plants regularly and to prevent heat from drowning them, constantly adjust the grow light.
Remove the leaves that look pale so that the plant focuses its energy on growing buds that, recovering the colour of its leaves, do everything possible so that your cannabis plants receive adequate nutrients.
9. Flowering Stage
This stage will begin once it has reached the necessary height, once it flowers, you can start making your own Cannabis items. It is crucial that you adjust a 12/12 light system and that the sprouts have low light, otherwise, the sprouts will not grow properly, the plants will start to grow 2-3 weeks after starting the 12/12 light schedule.
What should I take into account when planting marijuana?
You should make sure that the soil is drainable and consider the PH level, nutrients and texture. The required nutrients are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, although there are also micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium and sulfur.
Nitrogen will help with the growth of leaves and stems, so you should use a large amount of nitrogen especially during the vegetative stage. With potassium, you will be building glucose for the plant, as well as creating a nutrient absorbing capacity. Phosphorus, on the other hand, will serve for the flowering stage, making the buds bigger.
That’s it! After completing the whole process, all that remains is to remove the cannabis flower and dry it, to start enjoying the benefits of this plant.