As more and more states legalize cannabis, there is an ever-growing demand for it. The most common way to access marijuana is through dispensaries or recreational facilities. But what about those who prefer to grow their own?
Some people start growing cannabis when they realize that none of them have done it before. There are many ways to begin cultivating your pot, so no matter what kind of user you want to be, there’s something for everyone!
Luckily, anyone can learn how to cultivate weed! While some may consider learning how to grow cannabis a skill, others may view it as an activity that requires too much time and effort. Either way, it takes only a few weeks to know the basics, and you will always have a supply at hand.
Many individuals begin by starting with a simple plant until they feel comfortable enough to move onto more complex crops. This article contains all the information you need to get started! Read on to find out more about how to start growing your own cannabis.
Research your strain
The first thing to do aside from deciding if you want to start cannabis as a business or not is figuring out which strains are worth investing in. There are two main things that determine this- their phenotype (resemblance to other similar strains) and cannabinoid content.
Strain phenotypes come in three major categories: Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid. While most people associate indicas with sleep and sativas with euphoria, hybrids can have both effects depending on how much of each type they contain.
A good way to learn about strains is by doing research! Many companies will release information about their plants including pictures, growth rates, and notes. You may also be able to find some through social media sites like Instagram or YouTube.
You should always look up medical info as well as taste tests so you know what effect a plant has on different individuals.
Find the right space
Before you even think about getting into cannabis cultivation, you will need to find your growing area or what we like to call your canopy. This is where your plants will grow!
You do not want to start cultivating before knowing this basic concept, as you could end up with poor quality crops due to no proper light exposure.
Most people choose to use an enclosed room in their house or apartment as their canopy. If possible, try looking at your wall spaces or areas of the ceiling that are close to each other to determine your ideal canopy.
This can be done by using heavy curtains, taping off parts of the walls, or just covering the entire ceiling with plastic sheeting. Many people also put covers over their beds to create more efficient darkness.
Cannabis requires around eight hours of direct sunlight per day to produce enough food, so make sure to check on your plant during the night time to ensure it does not suffer from lack of nutrition.
Decide on the lighting
Lighting is one of the most important parts of growing cannabis. There are two main types of light used to grow plants- direct sunlight and artificial or indoor lights.
Direct sunlight is your best choice if you can plant in an area with lots of exposure, but this may not be possible all the time. When indirect sunlight is unavailable, you can use artificial bulbs known as “grow lamps”.
Grow lamps come in many different shapes and sizes, but almost every professional greenhouse uses some type of high intensity discharge (HID) bulb. HIDs emit very bright light that helps stimulate growth.
There are three major components involved in creating these intense bursts of light: resistance, current and voltage. The higher the resistance, the less vibrant the light will be; lower resistance means more efficient production. Higher currents mean better light quality while higher voltages result in faster plant growth.
Your final decision should depend on what kind of cannabis you want to produce! If strong, thick buds are your goal, then HIDs are your best bet since they create brighter, sharper shadows.
If thin, spindly leaves and shoots are your top priority, look into low-dose fluorescents. These work by emitting a faint glow under normal conditions, which help promote healthy development.
Get your equipment
First, you will need to make sure that you have all of your cannabis cultivation gear ready. This includes ensuring that you have enough light source bulbs for full growth, soil, nutrients, pots/containers, and plant trays or clings.
You do not want to start growing without everything!
Making sure that you are prepared is very important since it can be expensive depending on how much money you are willing to spend. Luckily, most things in cannabis grow facilities are inexpensive, but staying within budget is best so you do not waste any money.
Many sellers online and at dispensaries offer discounts or free shipping which help reduce cost slightly as well. Make sure to check out both sites before buying anything.
Also, remember that some plants take longer than others to mature, so keep an eye on them during the early stages of growth.
Know your chemicals
A cannabis cultivator is very likely to come across several different types of cannabinoids, ketones, and other substances in their process. These include THC, CBDA, CBD, CBC, CBN, beta-carophyllene, terpenes, and more!
Each one has its own function and how they work with marijuana can be determined by what stage of production you are at, what type of plant or plants you are using, and which ones exist in high amounts.
Thc (tetrahydrocannabinol), one of the most well known compounds in cannabis, is responsible for the drug’s euphoric effects.
There are some great online tools that can tell you not only what thc levels are in a given amount of weed, but also which strains have higher or lower than average thc content. This information is really helpful as now anyone can grow their own medicine!
Knowing what chemical components of cannabis you contain helps determine whether you are still within legal limits, and what possible health benefits each one may offer.
Know your plant
As with any new plants, there’s an initial investment in time to ensure that you know what you are doing. Before jumping into growing cannabis, make sure you have done your research on different strains, THC levels, and cultivation techniques.
Know your pests
One of the most common issues cultivators face is insect pest damage. There are many types of insects that influence how well cannabis plants grow and what quality of product you get!
There are three major categories-wireworms, aphids, and spider mites. Wireworm larvae burrow into plant tissue which can cause significant harm to the plant. Aphids often times associate with moss or algae and use it as food, so they cannot function without it. Spider mites like warm conditions, so if you have to check your pot early to find these little critters, this could be an indication that your soil needs more warmth.
How to prevent wireworms, aphids, and spider mites
Each one of these requires different strategies in prevention. For example, to avoid wireworms, make sure to pull up any weeds that may harbor them. This will eliminate close proximity to where they breed. To protect against aphids, you can either pick off any visible ones or apply a strong sugary liquid to the plants. The sugar attracts other hungry aphids who then ingest the protective coating and die! You can also add some kind of floral residue oil around the roots to help keep them protected.
For spider mite control, ensure that your pots do not contain too much water. If needed, invest in a humidifier to aid in growth.
Grow your plant
The first step towards cannabis cultivation is to start plants! There are two main ways to begin growing your own marijuana. You can grow low-grow hybrids or high-grown oil strains.
With most medical grade cannabis, there’s an intermediate strain that is perfect for people just getting into weed. These strains are very strong but contain less than 0.2% THC – the psychoactive compound that makes you feel “high.”
These types of flowers are ideal for beginners because they have a natural sedative effect. This means that users will not get too excited about how potent their weed is – instead, they will relax and enjoy it.
