Growing cannabis isn’t as difficult as you might think. Anyone can grow cannabis, as long as they have the right information and resources. A lack of reliable information is usually the main challenge for newcomers to cannabis cultivation. Fortunately, this guide explains everything you need to know about growing cannabis, from seed to harvest. Growing cannabis may seem intimidating at first, but once you understand the basics, it becomes much simpler. In fact, growing your own cannabis is rewarding and fun. We’ll give you a glimpse into this practice that’s generating a lot of interest.
An Overview of the Basic Principles of Cannabis Cultivation
The best way to get a good yield and high-quality cannabis is to grow healthy and, above all, strong plants. Here’s a quick overview of the key things to know about growing cannabis.
- Cannabis is a warm-season annual plant. It generally thrives in temperate climates. Each year, it grows and dies before being replanted the following year.
- It takes about 10 to 32 weeks to grow a cannabis plant. Of course, this timeframe varies depending on the method you choose and how large you want the plants to grow.
- It’s important to decide between indoor and outdoor cultivation before you start growing. After all, you can grow cannabis almost anywhere. It all depends on the space, resources, and equipment you have available.
- Marijuana plants start either from a clone or a seed. A clone is a cutting taken from a marijuana plant. You can grow it into another plant that will have the same genetic makeup. As for seeds, they germinate and grow into seedlings.
- After passing through the seedling stage, the plant enters the vegetative stage. This stage is generally the longest of its life. It then develops a main stem, branches, and fan-shaped leaves, but no buds yet.
- Everything changes during the flowering phase, when cannabis plants begin to produce buds. This phase begins about two months before harvest.
- During harvest, the plants must be cut, trimmed, dried, and steeped. They are then ready to be smoked.
Indoor or Outdoor Cannabis Cultivation
As explained above, it is important to decide right from the start whether to grow indoors or outdoors.
Indoor Gardening
Indoor growing has many advantages. For starters, it guarantees very high-quality cannabis. This is because it allows you to control all the important aspects of the growing environment. Indoor growing also offers greater flexibility. Unlike outdoor growing, the process isn’t dependent on weather conditions or the seasons. You provide your plants with the entire growing environment they need to thrive. Similarly, indoor growing allows for multiple harvests. Since you control your growing environment, you can determine when to trigger flowering and, consequently, when to harvest. You also decide the ideal time to start a new grow cycle, whether it’s winter or summer.
The final advantage of growing indoors is safety. Despite the legality of growing cannabis, you may decide to keep it hidden for reasons of your own.
However, indoor growing involves significant expenses. In fact, the list of equipment needed for this type of growing is long. Compared to outdoor growing, you’ll need to make a larger investment.
Outdoor Growing
When it comes to outdoor cultivation, the primary advantage is clearly the low operating costs. In fact, growing cannabis outdoors allows you to take advantage of natural resources (sun, wind, rain, etc.). This means you won’t have to spend large amounts of money on electricity for grow lights, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.
Outdoor cultivation also allows you to achieve very good yields. In fact, you can let your plants grow to whatever height you want—provided, of course, that they remain manageable.
However, growing cannabis outdoors has certain requirements. You need a plot of land that receives sufficient sunlight throughout the entire growing season. In addition, outdoor cultivation isn’t very flexible when it comes to production cycles.
Growing Cannabis in Soil or Hydroponically
This is a very common debate among cannabis growers. Keep in mind that you have the option of using both soil and water to grow your cannabis. In fact, you can use any growing medium as long as you provide the plants with what they need. This generally includes the right amount of water, light, and nutrients.
If you’re having trouble making a choice, the factor to consider is the time it takes for the plants to grow. For example, growing cannabis hydroponically is faster than growing it in soil. Hydroponics is generally recommended for new cannabis growers. It is indeed easier for them to manage the growing environment and nutrients. As for growing cannabis in soil, this method is recommended for more experienced growers.
Choosing Which Marijuana Seeds to Grow
If you want to grow high-quality cannabis, it’s important to start with good-quality seeds. In fact, some experts believe that seed selection is the most important aspect of growing cannabis.
If you want to grow seeds that produce potent, flavorful buds, you should choose high-quality strains. Not all seeds are created equal, and some are of higher quality than others.
To that end, there are a few factors to consider when selecting cannabis seeds.
- Genetics: This is the most important factor in choosing seeds. Good seeds have strong genetics and produce buds similar to the original parent plants. Poor-quality seeds produce plants that bear no resemblance to the original parent strain.
- Availability: Some seeds are easier to find than others. At the same time, some seeds are harder to find because they are in high demand among growers.
- Price: As mentioned above, not all seeds are created equal. Some are more valuable than others because they are more sought-after or yield better results.
Where can I buy cannabis seeds?
As with other aspects of cannabis cultivation, there are many options available to you for obtaining seeds.
You can buy them online from distributors or in brick-and-mortar stores. It’s also possible to find seeds in old bags that were used to store buds. Although this last option is rare, it’s not entirely impossible. If you come across them, you can use them to grow your own cannabis.
Before buying seeds online, it’s a good idea to check the quality of the product. Make sure the seeds come from a reputable seed bank. It’s also important to ensure that the seeds come from an original parent plant.
If you're shopping at a brick-and-mortar store, you can ask the salesperson for a seed that's suitable for a beginner grower. They can recommend a few varieties that aren't too demanding and are therefore perfect for your first attempt.
What are the stages of cannabis growth?
The growth stages of cannabis can be broken down into four main phases:
- Germination (3–10 days)
- Sowing (2–3 weeks)
- Vegetation (3–16 weeks)
- Flowering (8 to 11 weeks)
Germination of Cannabis Seeds
Seeds take 3 to 10 days to germinate. The light cycle for cannabis is 18 hours per day indoors and 6 hours per day outdoors.
At this stage, the cannabis seed should be hard and dry to the touch. It should also be brown in color, ranging from light to dark brown. An underdeveloped seed will generally be soft and green or white. In that case, it will likely not germinate.
Once the seed has germinated, it’s ready to be planted in its growing medium. The taproot will grow downward while the plant’s stem will grow upward. As the roots spread out, the stem will grow taller. That’s when you’ll start to see the first iconic fan-shaped leaves emerge.
The seedling stage in cannabis plants
The seedling stage in cannabis lasts 2 to 3 weeks. At this stage, the plant begins to develop the characteristic fan-shaped cannabis leaves. It is recommended not to overwater cannabis during the seedling stage. Its roots are still too small to require a lot of water.
At this stage, the plant is also vulnerable to diseases and mold. It is therefore important to keep its environment clean and watch out for excess moisture. It also needs plenty of light. Even if you plan to grow it outdoors, it’s recommended to start the seeds indoors under artificial light. This helps them successfully get through the seedling stage, which is a very delicate period for their growth.
Note that buying a clone from a grower allows you to skip the seed germination process.
The vegetative stage of cannabis plants
The vegetative stage lasts 3 to 16 weeks. This is the stage during which the plant’s growth is most noticeable. The plants are transplanted into larger pots. The roots and foliage grow rapidly.
At this stage, it is recommended to increase watering as the plant grows. When the plant is young, water it near the stem. As the plant grows, the roots spread outward. Therefore, water should be applied further away from the stem, deep into the soil. This allows the roots to absorb water more efficiently. During the vegetative stage, cannabis plants thrive in healthy, nutrient-rich soil. So don’t hesitate to provide a high nitrogen input.
The vegetative stage is also the perfect time to determine the sex of your plants. Their reproductive organs begin to appear a few weeks after the vegetative stage. Be sure to separate them by sex to prevent the males from pollinating the females.
The flowering stage of the cannabis plant
The flowering stage lasts 8 to 11 weeks. This is the final stage of a cannabis plant’s growth. It is during this stage that the resinous buds begin to develop, and your hard work will pay off.
Outdoors, this period marks the transition from summer to fall. The plant therefore receives less light, and flowering occurs naturally. For indoor growers, flowering is triggered by reducing the amount of light the plants receive. Generally, it is recommended to reduce the light cycle from 18 to 12 hours per day.
When plants transition from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage, there are certain changes that must be taken into account.
- To avoid disrupting their hormones, it is not recommended to prune flowering plants;
- To support the buds as they develop, the plants must be trained;
- To promote flowering, it is recommended to apply a phosphorus-rich fertilizer.
In summary
Cannabis is a wonderful plant that can be grown indoors or outdoors in almost any climate. The best way to start growing cannabis is to choose a growing method and buy high-quality seeds. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying high-quality cannabis.
