The decision to grow marijuana is a beneficial one, though there are some things to consider before getting started. Whether you use it recreationally or medicinally, there is something special about sewing your own seeds and harvesting your very own buds. Being ill-prepared can make the process of growing cannabis more tedious and stressful. While there are now more dispensaries available across the world, many people are opting to grow their own plants so they can be sure of the product’s quality while saving money. Before you start growing cannabis, consider the following information to ensure you get the best possible results come harvest time. 1. UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF CANNABISHere are some must-know facts about cannabis to help you get started. Before you think about germinating your seeds, make sure to get your hands on a good marijuana grow book and continue reading through our backlog of grow articles: Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants which can be either male, female, or hermaphrodite. Cannabis plants can be grown indoors, outdoor, and in greenhouses. In nature, male plants pollinate female flowers (or buds) to create new seeds. Most growers, however, will keep their females unpollinated to produce better buds. There are 3 main varieties of cannabis; indica, sativa, and ruderalis. All 3 vary in morphology and effects. Indica and sativa cannabis varieties are naturally photoperiod plants, meaning they flower based on how much light they receive. Ruderalis plants, on the other hand, flower automatically based on age, regardless of changes to their light cycles. There are 3 main phases to the cannabis life cycle; seedling phase, vegetative phase, and flowering phase. In nature, cannabis plants grow annually, usually beginning their life cycle between spring and the first days of summer. The length of a plant's life cycle can vary greatly (anywhere between 4-10 months). 2.Consider the Costs of Growing MarijuanaWhile most people grow marijuana to avoid the higher costs of purchasing from dispensaries or on the black market, there are costs involved in growing cannabis. The cost will depend on the operation’s size and how professional the setup is. No matter the setup or experience level, most indoor cannabis growers are going to need at least the following: Grow light/lights Grow tent or space Fan Light reflectors pH meter Ventilator Timer Professional setups require much more equipment, and the expense can rise exponentially. Having the basics on hand will help to ensure you are adequately prepared for planting, growing, and harvesting. Although you do not want to purchase the absolute cheapest equipment on the market, this does not mean the most expensive equipment is best. Carefully researching the market will help you to find the best prices and products. 3. KNOW HOW MUCH POWER YOU’LL NEEDOnce you have a better understanding of the cannabis plant and equipment, it’s important to realise how much power you’ll need to keep your grow running. This mainly applies to indoor growers. Remember, cannabis plants need a lot of light (up to 18 hours per day minimum). In order to run a successful grow indoors, you’ll need to power a quality grow light (most growers opt for 400-600W grow lights). Apart from your light, you’ll also need to power other electrical equipment such as fans, extractors, and more. In some residential houses, this may cause a power overload, as residential power circuits are sometimes limited to roughly 1500w. 4. UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT GROW METHODSCannabis can be grown in many different ways. Before you start your grow, remember to read up on various grow methods and pick one that is best suited to your skill level and budget. Arguably the most common way to grow weed is in soil. When doing so, growers will add nutrients to the soil which the plant then absorbs via its roots. These nutrients can be provided via store-bought nutrient solutions or natural alternatives like compost. Alternatively, some advanced growers may opt to grow their plants in mediums other than soil. Methods that use mediums other than soil (such as coco coir, sand, water, or even misted air) are referred to as hydroponic methods. Deciding on which way to grow weed is completely up to you. However, inexperienced growers are generally advised to start with simpler, soil-based methods. 5.What About Light?Light is one of the most important aspects of growing cannabis indoors. If you are growing outdoors, all that is needed is the light from the sun. There are many types of best grow lights available, so it is wise to conduct research and learn as much as possible about the options. Consider the following before making a purchase. Fluorescent lights are preferred for growing cannabis, but they must be installed close to the plants because they are not as strong as some other types of grow lights. LED grow lights are the most expensive option for cannabis growers, but they will offer a higher yield and energy savings. Many novice growers wait until they have honed their skills before purchasing these more expensive lighting options. HID grow light is another affordable and popular option in growing lights and would be an excellent first choice for new growers. CMH grow light is like a Metal Halide (MH) bulb, but while a MH bulb uses a standard quartz arc tube, CMH is built with a ceramic arc tube. This is similar to the material used for HPS grow light So that's can be said that CMH is a mix between MH and HPS 6. MONITOR YOUR PERFORMANCEWhen you’re new to growing cannabis, it's important you keep tabs on all your hard work. Hence, we always recommend you take the time to document the progress of your grow. How you do so is up to you. A simple option is to take photos of your plants on a weekly basis to document their growth and progress. Alternatively, you may want to keep a grow journal in which you note down specific details about your grow, such as the nutrients you’re using, your light schedule, and any events like pest infestations etc. Documenting the progress of your grow allows you to keep tabs on all the various factors affecting your plants and how you dealt with them. This is especially important for new growers as it allows them to revisit their work and improve their processes. One extra remark on this one: If you grow weed in a place where it is illegal it might be a good idea NOT to monitor your performance. When caught by the police you don't want them to find a notebook with all your grows from the last 5 years including the amounts you harvested in that time. They will use it as proof for sure. ConclusionYes, there are a lot of things to consider when it comes to growing cannabis. Although all the above information may seem a bit overwhelming, once you have the hang of things, growing marijuana is not overly complicated.
Educating yourself is one of the best steps you can take when preparing to grow cannabis. The more you know, the more effective the growing process. It takes time to perfect the steps involved in producing a successful high-yield crop, but with practice and time, it gets easier.
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