Growing Cannabis

Cannabis growing has a lot of moving parts, and it can get very scientific. New growers can often feel overwhelmed with an information overload; we have to remember, though, this is a weed after all and can grow anywhere. But, if we want a superior outcome, there are specific easy steps to make that happen.

Don’t worry; we are here to help and guide you along the way. We will break down everything you need to know into simple, easy-to-understand guides that will get you off to a productive start and produce that gassed-up fire!

The first step for every grower in Canada is to get an ACMPR License. With this license, you can grow up to 463 indoor plants or 193 outdoor plants. Of course, you can grow much less if you need to.

Once you have your license in hand, the first choice any new grower has to make is if they will grow cannabis indoors or outdoors, and usually will come down to personal circumstances, but it is often a choice amongst growers.

You will hear heated debates in the grow shop about which produces the better bud; the good old sun or an HPS grow light or LED in a basement.

Cleanliness is the most important factor to know and understand to have a sterile environment for growing cannabis. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide are best for cleaning your garden and it goes without saying, this is common sense, do not apply these two chemicals to the plants and don’t mix them when preparing the grow garden.

Growing Cannabis Indoor

Indoor cannabis growing is beneficial as you can do it at any time of the year. You also have full control over environment what you put in it.

A dedicated area is required for marijuana plants. They won’t be mobile. The ideal space should be next to a window that allows you to vent the air from your grow space.

The smell of weed plants growing! You’ll need to redirect the air flow so that your house doesn’t smell like weed, especially when flowering begins.

Grow Room Lighting

A critical component for healthy cannabis growth is grow room lighting, natural light or artificial light.

You must make sure your indoor space is well-lit. Your plants can be confused by light leakage during dark periods. This could cause them to either produce male flowers, or revert back to their previous stage.

Do not keep lights on 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For flower, 12 on and 12 off is ideal. For vegetative,  18 on and six off or 20-21 on and 3-4 off, depending on yield requirements and environment.

• LED
• HID High-intesity Discharge
• MH Metal Halide
• HPS High Pressure Sodium
• Fluorescent

Grow Room Environment

Humidity and temperature work together. The ideal temperature for growing cannabis is 30°-34° Celsius, which is equal to 75°-86° Fahrenheit. Grow room environment is critical for healthy plants.

Temperature

Cannabis plants prefer a temperature that is similar to humans or slightly warmer. Ideal soil temperature is 20° C, 68° F.

Ideal vegetative growth temperature is 29.4°C, 85°F. Ideal flowering temperature is 29.17°C, 84.5°F.

During different growth stages, the temperature must fluctuate and be in optimal range for respective growth stages.

Humidity

The two most important stages where humidity must be controlled are vegetative and flowering stages. 42-59% humidity for flower and 61.5-69% for vegetative growth.

Indoor Growing Mediums

Cannabis growing medium requirements are soil, hydroponics, or aquaponics. Nutrients or fertilizers are used as food for growing.

With hydroponics, you have total control over the growing conditions and environment. The plants can grow very fast if using a hydroponic system conducive to growth requirements and expected yield.

Growing Cannabis Outdoor

Cannabis soil should be a light texture and loose to promote development of roots and optimal oxygen transfer to the roots. The ability for soil to drain is critical for fertilization of healthy plants and maximum yield.

Greenhouse Growing

A greenhouse can protect outdoor elements and bugs and allow you to extend the growing season.

While greenhouses can still harness the energy and light from the sun, they are more manageable and provide a stable crop, and some growers prefer to use a greenhouse.

Cannabis Nutrients and Water

Nutrient deficiencies and disease are two adverse side effects of over-watering your plants. Measuring pH level is critical to prevent nutrient-lockout.

The choice to grow in soil or hydroponics will determine how much water to use and how often. Less than 30% of potting capacity is best practice for watering, and a good place to start.

If under-watering the plants, you will see the leaves become droopy. If over-watering the plants, you may see pooling of water in the pot and fungus from too much humidity.

Under-watering is less devastating to the plant than over-watering. A thirsty plant can recover quickly if watered appropriately. Too much water is difficult to fix. Check out our reverse osmosis guide for watering cannabis plants.

Drying, Trimming, Curing

It’s time for the plant to be cut down. This is usually done after 8-12 weeks. Indica strains finish in 8 weeks, while Sativas take between 10-12 weeks.

The flowers are then processed after the plant has been cut down. The flowers must be dried, trimmed, and cured.

Cannabis Growing Accessories

You will need everything you can get, from the best books on growing cannabis to the cheapest gadgets and even a microscope to determine when your plant is done.

There are many accessories that you might not have known you needed until you used them in every grow room. These little accessories are essential for successful cannabis growth.

Cannabis Concentrates

Concentrates from cannabis can be used to create edibles, oils, or one of many high-THC products. Once your crop has been dried and cured, you can make concentrates such as Rosin.